HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Internet

David Amess: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, what historical material the House of Commons Commission is planning to make available on the parliamentary (a) intranet and (b) website in the next two years; and if he will make a statement.

John Thurso: There is currently a project under way to digitise House of Commons Journals between the years 1836 and 1997. Scanning is in progress. Publishing to the website is yet to be scheduled and resourced.
	There are plans to put up new content on the Living Heritage section of the parliamentary website on the themes of Parliament and Belief, Parliament and Empire, and Parliament and Ireland in the financial year 2011-12.

Portcullis House: Clocks

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, representing the House of Commons Commission, if the House of Commons Commission will arrange to place a large clock in the Atrium of Portcullis House.

John Thurso: Clocks are already provided on the TV screens around the perimeter of the Atrium of Portcullis House but the Department of Facilities has been asked to consider what an additional clock would cost and whether such expenditure could be justified.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department plans to take to assess the contribution to the economy of arts and culture.

Jeremy Hunt: holding answer 19 May 2011
	The Department, alongside Arts Council England, is currently undertaking a project aimed at providing a framework for quantifying the economic contribution of the Department's sectors, including the arts and cultural sector. The project is expected to include an analysis of our sectors and guidance on conducting and commissioning analysis in this area. The Department also publishes economic estimates of the creative industries for turnover, employment, number of businesses and exports, which includes estimates for the music, visual and performing arts, arts and antiques and architecture sectors. The latest release can be found at the following link:
	http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/7634.aspx
	The estimates are updated annually and the next release is scheduled for autumn of this year.

Bingo

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  when he plans to announce changes to regulations on the use of B3 machines in bingo clubs;
	(2)  what his policy is on measures to support the bingo industry; and if he will make a statement.

John Penrose: The Government are looking to support all sectors of the gambling industry, including bingo, through identifying and reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens. That is why I have been reviewing the maximum stake limit and premises entitlements for category B3 gaming machines and I hope to make an announcement soon on the outcome of that review.

Bingo: Taxation

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on bingo taxation.

John Penrose: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport Ministers and officials have regular discussions with their counterparts at Her Majesty's Treasury on a range of issues which affect our sectors. Treasury colleagues are well aware of the concerns that have been raised with them by the bingo industry.

Bowling

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will have discussions with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on the adequacy of planning regulations in protecting crown green and lawn bowling facilities.

Hugh Robertson: I have regular discussions with colleagues. The Department for Communities and Local Government expects to consult on a new National Planning Policy Framework in July.

Bowling

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will assess the adequacy of the provision of crown green and lawn bowling facilities in relation to levels of demand in England.

Hugh Robertson: It is for local councils to assess the need for such facilities in their areas.

Broadband

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what objectives have been set which define his aim to ensure that the UK has the best superfast broadband in Europe by the end of the present Parliament.

Jeremy Hunt: holding answer 19 May 2011
	To determine whether the UK has the best superfast broadband network in Europe, we will be publishing a balanced scorecard which will include speed, price, choice and coverage, as well as take up. In addition, on 12 May, I announced the ambition that 90% of the UK population should have access to a superfast broadband connection by 2015, with the rest having access to a service of at least 2 Mbps.

Broadband

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the proportion of households in each parliamentary constituency which have access to broadband services and do not subscribe to them;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the proportion of households in each parliamentary constituency which do not have access to broadband services;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the proportion of households in each parliamentary constituency with access to broadband services of (a) 2 mbps or fewer and (b) more than 2 mbps.

Edward Vaizey: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport have not made an estimate of the number of households that do not subscribe to broadband, but use independent analysis for reference purposes.
	Broadband Delivery UK has estimated that the total number of premises with a sub 2 mbps connection in all UK constituencies is 1.58 million and the total number of premises with above 2 mbps is 25.8 million.
	The Ofcom Communications Market Report 2010 (August) contains further data on broadband accessibility in the UK. It can be found using the link:
	http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/market-data-research/market-data/communications-market-reports/
	In addition, the Office for National Statistics published their ‘Internet Access Quarterly Update’ on 18 May 2011 which provides data on the number of people who have “never used” the internet, broken down by geographical region. The report can be found using the link:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/articles/nojournal/internet-access-q1-2011.pdf

Broadband

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will request that Ofcom investigate BT's pricing of ducts and poles in deployment of superfast broadband to third party providers.

Edward Vaizey: Industry consultation on the draft reference offers for access to BT's ducts and poles, which were published in January 2011, is ongoing. If commercial terms cannot be agreed by the end of the consultation period, it will be for Ofcom, who have the powers to investigate, to determine whether to intervene to set prices.

Broadband: Scotland

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 4 March 2011, Official Report, column 611W, on broadband: public expenditure, what assessment he has made of the effect on the pilot project in Scotland of restrictions on the use of ducts and poles for (a) fixed wireless access broadband, (b) mobile broadband, (c) satellite, (d) leased lines and (e) single or one-off connections.

Edward Vaizey: The Department has not made any assessment of the restrictions in regard to any of the points raised. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) are responsible for this aspect of the project; however we are keen to learn from their experiences in due course.

BSkyB: News Corporation

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the reasons are for the time taken to announce his decision on the proposed News Corporation acquisition of BSkyB.

Jeremy Hunt: I am currently considering all the responses to the consultation and will make my decision, followed by a statement to this House, as soon as I am able.

Departmental Travel

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport on what date special advisers in his Department last used the Government car pool to travel in an official capacity; and on how many occasions a special adviser in his Department has travelled to their home address using the Government car pool since May 2010.

John Penrose: The Department does not offer the use of Government pool cars to special advisers.

Departmental Travel

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on special advisers’ travel by (a) Government car, (b) private hire car, (c) train, (d) bus, (e) commercial aircraft and (f) private aircraft since May 2010.

John Penrose: The following amount have been spent by the Department on current special advisers’ travel from 1 May 2010 to 31 March 2011:
	
		
			 Form of transport Cost (£) 
			 Private hire car (including taxi) 436.65 
			 Train 426.60 
			 Commercial flights 817.05 
			 Total 1,680.30 
		
	
	The Department does not offer the use of Government pool cars or private aircraft to special advisers. No cost has been incurred from travel on buses.

Departmental Travel

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how much has been spent on travel in respect of (a) each of his Department’s Executive agencies and (b) the chief executive of each such agency since May 2010.

John Penrose: The Department for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport has only one Executive agency—the Royal Parks (TRP). The agency’s accounting system does not separate travel and subsistence. The figure for spend since May 2010 is as follows:
	(a) TRP has spent £14,133.27 on travel and subsistence since May 2010;
	(b) There have been no travel and subsistence claims from the chief executive of TRP during this period.

Film

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 3 May 2011, Official Report, column 635W, on UK Film Council, when he plans to launch a review of film policy; and who he expects to lead that review.

Jeremy Hunt: holding answer 19 May 2011
	Details of the film policy review and those undertaking it will be announced shortly.

Gambling

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 7 March 2011, Official Report, column 741W, on gambling, what representations he has received from external interest groups on the outcomes of the 2010 Gambling Prevalence Survey since 1 March 2011.

John Penrose: According to our records, since 1 March 2011, the Department has received a written representation from one external interest group, the Association of British Bookmakers, about the 2010 Gambling Prevalence Survey. In addition, the results of the Prevalence Survey have been discussed as part of my officials' regular meetings with trade bodies and with faith and community groups.

Gambling

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 7 March 2011, Official Report, column 741W, on gambling, whether he has made an assessment of the outcomes of the Gambling Prevalence Survey 2010 including (a) recent trends in the number of problem gamblers and (b) the use of B2 terminals in betting shops.

John Penrose: There has been a slight increase in the absolute levels of problem gambling to 0.9% of the population—and while it is not possible to say whether this represents an upward trend or a temporary fluctuation, we cannot be complacent. But we must use caution when looking at problem gambling rates for individual activities; problem gamblers tend to gamble using many activities and the Prevalence Survey does not provide evidence or proof about which activities cause or exacerbate problem gambling. We will be watching closely the outcome of the current machines research which will address these questions, among other things.

Gambling

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2011, Official Report, column 1086W, on gambling, what progress has been made on the (a) form, (b) funding and (c) timing of the next Gambling Prevalence Survey.

John Penrose: We continue to work closely with the Gambling Commission on the future funding of prevalence surveys of this kind and the best ways in which to gather prevalence data. The Gambling Commission will announce the future arrangements in due course. The Prevalence Study is not the only research that examines this area and I am pleased that the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board's research programme continues to focus on projects that will, over time, help target regulatory controls, education and treatment based on a robust evidence base. We need to know much more about problem gambling if we are to target future regulation, enforcement and prevention effectively. Continued industry funding for research, education and treatment is fundamental to this.

Horserace Totalisator Board: North West

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on the effects of any decision on the future of the Tote on levels of employment in the North West.

John Penrose: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, the right hon. Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), meets regularly with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, the right hon. Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable) and they discuss a variety of issues.

Horserace Totalisator Board: Wigan

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the application of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 to (a) all staff and (b) staff based in Wigan employed by the Tote following its sale.

John Penrose: The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, the right hon. Member for South West Surrey (Mr Hunt), has considered the application of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) to Tote staff. Whether TUPE. applies depends on the legal employer of the employee in question. For these purposes, Tote Group employees fall into two groups: (i) employees of the Horserace Totalisator Board; and (ii) employees of the Horserace Totalisator Board's subsidiaries.
	For employees employed by the Horserace Totalisator Board, TUPE will apply, together with the Horserace Betting and Olympic Lottery Act 2004, to transfer them to the successor company.
	For employees employed by subsidiaries of the Horserace Totalisator Board, such as Tote Credit Ltd and Tote Bookmakers Ltd, TUPE will not be needed. The reason for this is that their legal employer won't change at all—it will move from the Horserace Totalisator Board to the successor company along with the staff—so their existing employment contracts will be unaffected.

Intellectual Property

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he plans to respond to the Hargreaves review of intellectual property.

Edward Davey: I have been asked to reply.
	My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills published ‘Digital Opportunity: A Review of Intellectual Property and Growth’, an independent report by Professor Ian Hargreaves, on 18 May 2011. The Government will publish their substantive response before the summer parliamentary recess.

Members: Correspondence

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport when he plans to respond to the letters from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay of 22 March and 26 April 2011 regarding a constituent, Mr Lanasis.

John Penrose: The letter from the hon. Member for Basildon and Billericay dated 22 March 2011 was transferred to the Ministry of Justice for a reply as the subject raised by the constituent falls under their areas of responsibility.
	The Department has conducted a thorough check and has no record of receiving a letter from the hon. Member dated 26 April 2011. If the hon. Member could submit a copy of his letter I will ensure a timely response is sent. However, if this letter was related to the same issues raised in the letter of 22 March I recommend the hon. Member write directly to the Ministry of Justice.

Ofcom: Wi-Fi

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what ongoing assessment his Department is making of the propriety of the consultation by Ofcom on implementing geolocation in light of the recent move to a commercial mobile wireless data service provider of Ofcom's former Director of Technology Resources; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will review the future programme of Ofcom's consultation on implementing geolocation in light of the recent move of Ofcom's Director of Technology Resources to Neul Limited; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: The matter raised is the responsibility of the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which is directly accountable to Parliament. I am not aware of any reason why it would be appropriate to review the future programme, or make an ongoing assessment of propriety of Ofcom's consultation on implementing geolocation.

Radio Frequencies

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many white space devices he expects to be in operation in 2020; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: Given that we are in the very early stages in the development of the white space technology market I am not able to provide an accurate estimate of how many devices we expect to be used in the white spaces. A lot will depend on how the market develops and whether innovative or attractive services are developed for the technology. However experience of other technologies used for similar applications within unlicensed spectrum may provide an example. The nearest analogy to unlicensed white space devices would be Wi-Fi where there are over 4 million hot spots in the UK and many more customer devices that connect to them.

Sports: Reading

Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what financial assistance (a) his Department and (b) the National Lottery has given to (i) amateur and (ii) professional sports clubs in Reading West constituency since 2010.

Hugh Robertson: The information requested is not held by this Department and relates to matters that are the responsibility of Sport England.
	Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of Sport England to write direct to the hon. Member.
	Copies of the reply will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Video Games

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what his policy is on implementation of the recommendations of the Livingstone-Hope skills review of video games and visual effects.

Jeremy Hunt: holding answer 19 May 2011
	The Government are currently considering the report and, as the Plan for Growth confirms, we will issue a formal response in the summer. We welcome the industry's creation of a steering committee which will meet regularly to drive forward their response to the report's recommendations. In addition we expect a ministerial engagement group to progress

TREASURY

Bank Cards: Young People

Claire Perry: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the use of stored value cards by persons under the age of 18 years.

Mark Hoban: Treasury Ministers and officials have discussions with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such discussions.

Bank Services

David Morris: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps the Financial Service Authority has taken to regulate (a) the speed of and (b) charges for interbank transfers by electronic means.

Mark Hoban: The Payment Services Regulations 2009 (which implemented the Payment Services Directive) require the execution time for credit transfers to be reduced to no later than the next business day. Firms have until 1 January 2012 to meet this requirement. Interbank transfers are often free for consumers and they are not subject to price controls.

Bank Services: Interest Rates

Damian Hinds: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what representations he has received on the practices of banks in displaying the interest rates paid on savings accounts;
	(2)  what representations he has received on the level of clarity in saving account interest rate offers; and what assessment he has made of the effects of the level of clarity in such offers on the (a) transparency and (b) competitiveness of the market.

Mark Hoban: The Government receive representations from stakeholders on a wide range of banking issues. Banks’ conduct including the information they provide on interest rates they may offer, is regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA).
	As part of the FSA’s Banking Code of Conduct Sourcebook (BCOBS), banks are obliged to provide notice to customers, where appropriate, of the expiry of an introductory, promotional or preferential rate of interest. Banks should also provide reasonable notice when they wish to make a material change to a rate of interest that will disadvantage the customer.
	Following a recent consultation, the FSA amended BCOBS so that by the end of the year firms should provide interest rates on savings account statements.

Banks: Pay

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the proportion of bank bonuses paid by UK-based banks that was subject to income tax in the UK in the latest year for which information is available.

Justine Greening: The information is not available.

Business: Finance

Chris Ruane: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many letters of complaint he has received from the business community on the (a) removal of overdraft facilities and (b) removal of loan facilities to longstanding customers of (i) the Royal Bank of Scotland, (ii) Northern Rock and (iii) other financial institutions in which UK Financial Investments Ltd has a stake in each year since July 2007.

Mark Hoban: holding answer 16 May 2011
	HM Treasury has received approximately 1,718 letters concerning Royal Bank of Scotland, 2,559 concerning Northern Rock, 2,028 concerning Bradford and Bingley and 1,186 concerning Lloyds Banking Group since July 2007. These figures indicate the total volume of correspondence received in respect of each bank across any subject area.

Business: Regulation

Matthew Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to the 2011 Budget, HC 836, page 3, what estimate he has made of the likely number of (a) businesses and (b) small and medium-sized enterprises (i) nationally, (ii) in each region, (iii) in each local authority and (iv) in each parliamentary constituency likely to benefit from his decision to discontinue proposals for specific regulations which would have cost business over £350 million a year.

Mark Prisk: I have been asked to reply.
	The regulations that contribute to the £350 million cost reduction for business include: extension of the Right to Request Time to Train to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), extension of Right to Request Flexible Working to parents of 17-year-olds, Dual Discrimination and Third Party harassment.
	Right to request time to train
	All SMEs in Great Britain (approximately 1.1 million) will avoid the potential cost of administering requests from employees arising from the right to request time to train regulations which were due to commence on 1 April.
	Extension of right to request flexible working to parents of 17 years olds
	We also announced that we would no longer extend the right to request flexible working to parents of 17 years olds to any business regardless of size. This means that all businesses will potentially benefit from our decision not to make this interim extension to the right to request flexible working.
	Dual Discrimination
	We have assumed all employers would familiarise themselves with the legislation and therefore all employers would benefit economically from the decision not to bring forward the dual discrimination provisions.
	Third party harassment
	The Impact Assessment estimated between 15 and 60 additional cases might be brought each year; this is an appropriate proxy for the number of employers which could potentially benefit. However, it is not possible to determine whether or not they are SMEs as we cannot predict which employers would have been most liable to claims. Neither can we break this down further by region, local authority or parliamentary constituency.

Carbon Emissions

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the adequacy of the treatment of combined heat and power in the impact assessment his Department undertook in respect of a proposed carbon floor price mechanism.

Justine Greening: An assessment of the impacts of the carbon price floor is given in HMRC's Tax Information and Impact Note published alongside the Budget. This is available online at
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2011/tiin6111.pdf
	The Government continue to work with the Combined Heat and Power Association and its members, including representatives from the oil refining industry, in order to develop a simpler, direct and more effective means of support for combined heat and power stations.

Departmental CCTV

Philip Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many CCTV cameras are installed in and around his Department's premises; and how much such cameras cost to (a) install and (b) operate in the latest period for which figures are available.

Justine Greening: There are 48 CCTV cameras in the Treasury building.
	The costs of the camera installation were included in the refurbishment of the building by a PFI provider in 2002. The current operating cost is £3,500 per annum.

Departmental Drinks

Luciana Berger: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department has spent on the contents of ministerial drinks cabinets since 12 May 2010.

Justine Greening: The Treasury does not have ministerial drinks cabinets.
	All expenditure on official hospitality including alcohol is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on. Financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Managing Public Money and the Treasury handbook on “Regularity & Propriety”.

Devolution

Aidan Burley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the composition of the committee established to consider the future of the Barnett Formula and the West Lothian question.

Danny Alexander: No committee has been established to consider the future of the Barnett formula. The Government recognise the concerns on the system devolved funding. However, at this time, the priority must be to reduce the deficit and therefore any change to the system must await the stabilisation of the public finances
	The arrangement whereby MPs from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland can vote on Westminster Bills is commonly known as the West Lothian question. As part of it's programme of political reform, the Government have announced that they will establish a Commission to consider the West Lothian question. This commitment is included within the Government's priorities for 2011.

Economic Policy

Jacob Rees-Mogg: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons he deposited the UK's Convergence Programme with the EU on 28 April 2011 prior to its approval by the House on a deferred division on 4 May 2011; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: holding answer 16 May 2011
	The Convergence Programme was sent to the European Commission on 28 April in order to meet an agreed deadline of 30 April for submission of both Convergence Programmes and National Reform Programmes. This was agreed as part of the new European Semester. However, the Commission was advised that the document must be regarded as a draft until parliamentary scrutiny procedures are completed. This has been established practice in recent years where parliamentary debates on the Government's economic and budgetary assessment have not taken place at the time of submitting the Convergence Programme to the EU (a debate did not take place in the other place/House until 12 May).
	All of the information contained in the Convergence Programme has already been published and made available to Members.
	The UK's Convergence Programme itself does not require Parliament's approval. Due to the provisions of section 5 of the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993 it must be based upon an assessment of the economic and budgetary position which has been reported to Parliament by the Government for its approval. This year that assessment comprised the 2011 Budget report and the OBR's ‘Economic and fiscal outlook’—as set out in the 2011 Budget report itself. These documents were deposited in the Libraries of both Houses on 23 March for subsequent approval. The Budget report and associated documents are routinely debated and approved by the House of Commons.
	The Government take Parliament's involvement in this process very seriously. That is why, during negotiations on the new European Semester, the Government secured an exemption from the requirement to send draft budgetary plans to the Commission. The UK will continue to send our Budget—in the form of the Convergence Programme—only once it has been presented to Parliament by the Chancellor.

Equitable Life Assurance Society: Compensation

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what date he expects Equitable Life’s with-profit annuitants to start to receive compensation from the scheme established for this purpose.

Mark Hoban: holding answer 19 May 2011
	As I announced on 16 May, the Equitable Life Payment Scheme will make its first payments by the end of June. It will aim to make first payments to all with profits annuitants eligible for a payment by June 2012, subject to the policyholder being successfully identified and traced.

European Financial Stabilisation Mechanism

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the advice given by his Department's legal advisers in response to the opinion of the Council of Ministers on the legality of the European Stabilisation Mechanism established under article 122 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

Mark Hoban: Treasury Ministers received advice on this issue, including legal advice, as part of the normal process of policy development.
	Policy development and information relating to recent policy announcements need a degree of freedom to enable the process to work effectively. The release of information so soon after discussions took place would result in less full and frank discussions in the future, harming the policy formulation and development process.

European Financial Stabilisation Mechanism

William Cash: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  for what reasons he did not challenge the legal basis of the European Financial Stability Mechanism;
	(2)  whether he received legal advice on the legality of the European Financial Stability Mechanism in (a) May and (b) June 2010.

Mark Hoban: The European Financial Stability Mechanism (EFSM) was created following agreement by a qualified majority of member states at the ECOFIN meeting on 9 May 2010. The meeting took place before the formation of the coalition Government and was attended by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, the right hon. Member for Edinburgh South West (Mr Darling), who consulted opposition parties. The Chancellor of the Exchequer cautioned against committing the UK to proposals that have a lasting effect on the UK's public finances. However, he made it clear that given the right hon. Member for Edinburgh South West (Mr Darling) was still Chancellor of the Exchequer at that point, it was for him to reach decisions. All contact between the Treasury and the Opposition parties followed the agreed Cabinet Office guidelines for the 2010 general election.
	The terms of the EFSM are set out in EU Council Regulation No. 407/2010. It is compatible with the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union ¦ (TFEU), Article 122(2) of which states:
	“Where a Member State is in difficulties or is seriously threatened with severe difficulties caused by natural disasters or exceptional occurrences beyond its control, the Council, acting by a qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, may grant, under certain conditions, Community financial assistance to the Member State concerned.”
	The Council decided that, in these circumstances, those criteria applied, as the regulation itself makes clear.
	The Government have secured agreement at the December European Council that the EFSM will cease to exist in 2013 at the latest, that Article 122(2) TFEU will not be used for the purpose of ensuring the financial stability of the euro area as a whole, and that only euro area member states will be required to contribute to the permanent European Stability Mechanism.

Financial Services: Taxation

Iain Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with his G20 counterparts on the introduction of a multilateral financial transaction tax; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The Government of France have announced that discussion of financial transactions taxes will be one of their priorities for their presidency of the G20 this year. In addition, as requested by ECOFIN, the European Commission is currently preparing an impact assessment on financial sector taxation, including financial transactions taxes.
	The UK Government believe a financial transactions tax would need to be applied globally to prevent the relocation of financial services and are willing to engage in further international discussions of such taxes.

Fiscal Policy: Environment Protection

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fiscal measures his Department plans to put in place to increase levels of private sector research and development in low-carbon technologies during the comprehensive spending review period.

Justine Greening: As well as introducing the Patent Box, which will encourage investment in all patented technologies, Budget 2011 announced an increase in the SME rate of R and D tax credit to 200% from April 2011, and 225% from April 2012, subject to state aid approval; simplification of the R and D tax credit schemes; and an additional £100 million in 2011-12 in science capital development to provide facilities for the commercialisation of research, accommodation for innovative SMEs and new research capabilities.
	During this spending period several Departments will invest in low-carbon innovation, for example DECC will provide £200 million supporting technologies such as offshore wind.

Food: Prices

Laura Sandys: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on steps to address global food price inflation.

Justine Greening: The Treasury and other Departments, including the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs, discuss developments in global commodity markets on a regular basis.

Food: Prices

Laura Sandys: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent discussions he has had with large food producers on the effects of global food price inflation.

Justine Greening: Treasury Ministers and officials regularly meet with representatives from a wide range of public and private sector organisations, including food producers. Such engagement occurs throughout policy development and implementation. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of all such meetings and discussions.

Food: Prices

Laura Sandys: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department's forecast is for food price inflation for each year to 2014-15.

Justine Greening: The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) is responsible for producing independent economic and fiscal forecasts. The OBR published a full analysis on the prospects for overall inflation in their forecast at Budget, which can be found online at:
	http://budgetresponsibility.independent.gov.uk
	The OBR's forecast for commodity prices is
	“broadly flat as the supply response to higher prices to be offset by a continued rise in global demand, leaving prices broadly stable at their current levels over the forecast period.”

Renewable Energy: Feed-in Tariffs

Dan Rogerson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the announcement in the 2011 Budget to exclude feed-in tariff-based trades from the Enterprise Investment Scheme and Venture Capital Trusts applies to (a) community interest companies and industrial provident society structures and (b) other similar social enterprises.

Justine Greening: Legislation will be introduced in Finance Bill 2012 providing that companies whose trade consists wholly or substantially in the receipt of feed-in tariffs will only be eligible for the Enterprise Investment Scheme or Venture Capital Trusts where commercial electricity generation commences before 6 April 2012. The change will not apply to any shares issued before 23 March 2011.
	This change is designed to improve the focus of the schemes on smaller, higher risk companies. Draft legislation will be published for consultation before it is implemented.

Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation

Mark Spencer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from the sustainable biodiesel industry on the adequacy of the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO) mechanism to replace the support provided by the 20 pence duty differential for biodiesel made from used cooking oil; and if he will assess the merits of extending the differential until the RTFO has been proven an adequate support mechanism for the industry.

Justine Greening: As part of the Budget process, the Treasury routinely receives representations from stakeholders on a range of issues. The duty differential will end as intended on 31 March 2012. An open consultation is currently under way at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/
	and the industry is invited to respond.

Revenue and Customs: Debt Collection

John McDonnell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average cost to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) of an employee working in its Debt Management and Banking (DMB) unit is; and what his most recent estimate is for the average amount of debt collected annually by an HMRC employee working in the DMB unit.

David Gauke: holding answer 19 May 2011
	In 2010-11, the average salary of an employee working in HMRC's Debt Management and Banking directorate (DMB) was £27,051.15.
	The most recent published accounts and the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General showed that DMB collected £67.9 billion in 2009-10.
	As at 31 March 2010 DMB had 7,101 full-time equivalent staff.

Taxation: Aviation

Henry Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the legal advice he has received on the compatibility of a per plane tax with international law; what steps he plans to take to seek support for such a tax among his international counterparts; what timetable he has set for such action; and what his policy is on the eventual introduction of such a tax.

Justine Greening: The Government do not routinely publish legal advice in order to safeguard openness in communications between Ministers and officials, and ensure access to full and frank advice.
	As set out at Budget 2011, the Government will not introduce a per-plane duty at the present time, given concerns over the legality and feasibility of this approach. The Government will continue working with our international partners to build consensus for a per-plane duty in the future.

Taxation: Combined Heat and Power

Michael Connarty: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the likely effects on oil refining costs of the removal of tax exemption for combined heat and power.

Justine Greening: Following the Chancellor's Budget announcement, the Government continue to work with the Combined Heat and Power Association and its members, including representatives from the oil refining industry, in order to develop a simpler, direct and more effective means of support for combined heat and power stations. From 2013, the new relief from the carbon price floor will supersede the existing relief provided through levy exemption certificates, with the intention that CHP plants will continue to receive an appropriate level of support.

Taxation: Offshore Industry

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the energy company obligation is deemed to be levy-funded spending.

Justine Greening: As with similar obligations the Energy Company Obligation will be considered levy-funded spending if it is classified by the Office for National Statistics as tax and spending for National Accounts purposes.

Terrorism: Finance

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 4 May 2011, Official Report, columns 19-22WS, on the terrorist asset-freezing regime (17 December 2010 to 31 March 2011), with which banks were accounts frozen under the al-Qaeda and Taliban asset-freezing regime.

Mark Hoban: It would not be in the interest of the effective operation of the asset freezing regime to disclose the names of the banks which hold accounts for persons subject to the al-Qaeda and Taliban asset freezing regime. This information is provided by the banks to the Treasury in confidence for the purposes of monitoring compliance and enforcement with sanctions.

SCOTLAND

Charitable Donations

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to encourage charitable giving by Ministers in his Department.

David Mundell: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 4 March 2011, Official Report, column 611W.

Conditions of Employment

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he last met representatives of the Scottish Trades Union Congress to discuss the Government's review of employment rights.

Michael Moore: I held a meeting with representatives of the Scottish Trades Union Congress's General Council on 21 March 2011, at which we discussed Government proposals related to the workplace.

Conditions of Employment

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on his proposals to (a) extend his review of employment law and (b) assess the merits of (i) uncapped compensation awards in discrimination tribunal case, (ii) the 90-day consultation period rule for collective redundancies and (iii) staff transfer rules in respect of salaries and benefits of employees moved from the public to the private sector.

Michael Moore: I am in regular contact with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a range of matters.

Departmental Research

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what (a) longitudinal and (b) other (i) research and (ii) collection of data his Department has (A) initiated, (B) terminated and (C) amended in the last 12 months; and what such research and data collection exercises undertaken by the Department have not been amended in that period.

David Mundell: The Scotland Office has not initiated, terminated or amended in the last 12 months any longitudinal or other research or collection of data. There have been no such research or data collection exercises susceptible to amendment in that period.

Members

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2011, Official Report, column 551W, on Members, what the name is of each hon. and right hon. Member whom his Department has identified as having an interest in Scottish affairs.

David Mundell: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave on 28 March 2011, Official Report, column 31W, on Members, and on 1 April 2011, Official Report, column 515W.
	In addition to MPs with a Scottish constituency, and past and present Members of the Scottish Affairs Committee with constituencies outwith Scotland, generic correspondence has been copied to the following hon. Members who have intimated a specific interest in Scottish affairs:
	The hon. Member for Brentford and Isleworth (Mary Macleod)
	The hon. Member for Epping Forest (Mrs Laing)
	The hon. Member for Milton Keynes South (Iain Stewart).
	I am delighted that these hon. Members have expressed an interest in Scottish affairs and I encourage all hon. Members to take such an interest.

Ministers

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to meet the First Minister of Scotland.

Michael Moore: I met the First Minister recently and plan to meet him again in the near future.

Rescue Services

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has had discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport on Coastguard Agency staff located in Scotland appearing before the Transport Select Committee.

Michael Moore: I can confirm that Coastguard Agency staff are able to attend the series of meetings being held across the United Kingdom by the Transport Select Committee, the most recent of which was in Stornoway on 19 May 2011. Ministers have encouraged Coastguard Agency staff across the UK to share their views on proposals for modernising Her Majesty's Coastguard with the Transport Select Committee. The Committee has received written views and a number of submissions setting out alternative proposals from serving staff. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has facilitated opportunities for the Committee to meet operational coastguards at the Coastguard Centres at Falmouth, Clyde and Stornoway, and coastguards from other centres were encouraged to attend those sessions. Ministers have also proposed that members of the PCS Union can give formal evidence to the Committee in their capacity as union representatives. The Scotland Office has offered assistance to the Committee with arranging visits in Scotland, should this be required.

Scotland Bill

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the Prime Minister on the Scotland Bill; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Moore: I have regular discussions with the Prime Minister on a range of matters including the Scotland Bill.

Scottish Parliament

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next plans to visit the Scottish Parliament.

Michael Moore: I have made a number of visits to the Scottish Parliament and I look forward to visiting it again in the near future.

Taxation: Aviation

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent assessment his Department has made of the economic effects on Scotland of a reduction in the levels of aviation taxation; and if he will make a statement.

David Mundell: Taxation is a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Government are currently consulting on reform of air passenger duty with the aim of having a simple and fairer tax system for air transport services in the UK which does not hamper economic growth.

TRANSPORT

Crossrail Line: Consultants

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department has spent on consultation services for the Crossrail project in the last 12 months.

Theresa Villiers: The Department for Transport has not spent any money on consultation services for the Crossrail project in the last 12 months.

Departmental Pensions

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of his Department's budget he expects to be spent on staff pensions in each of the next five years.

Norman Baker: The Department estimates that it will spend less than 1% of its overall budget on pensions in each of the next four years. No estimate has been made for 2015-16 as this is outside the current spending review period.

Departmental Responsibilities

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department plans to cease to fund any of its functions over the period of the comprehensive spending review.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport achieved the majority of the savings required in the spending review by reducing budgets for lower priority/lower value for money programmes, by targeting or descoping programmes and through improved procurement processes.
	Funding for some minor programme functions has ceased, totalling £0.8 million in each year of the spending review. In addition funding for some minor administration functions has ended as part of the Department's overall administration budget reduction of 33% but these functions are not separately identifiable.
	As part of the spending review, decisions were taken not to fund some lower priority road schemes. Total estimated costs are £1 billion of which £250 million would be required within the spending review period.
	In addition, the current A14 Ellington to Fen Ditton scheme, with a total estimated cost of £1.2 billion of which £600 million would be within the spending review period, was stopped in its current form and the corridor is being re-examined to identify a viable way forward.
	Furthermore, the third round of the Private Finance Initiative (PFI) Street Lighting programme was cancelled. Seven local authorities were seeking some £700 million in PFI credits.
	The most significant examples of changes to programmes are stated in the Transport Spending Review Press Notice, dated 20 October 2010. The link to the Central Office of Information's News Distribution Service is:
	http://nds.coi.gov.uk/content/detail.aspx?NewsAreaId =2&ReleaseID=416118& SubjectId=16&AdvancedSearch=true

Driving Offences: Speed Limits

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has for future levels of penalties for motorists convicted of speeding offences.

Michael Penning: The Government recently published their Strategic Framework for Road Safety which sets out how they intend to reduce deaths and serious injuries on Britain’s roads. This can be found at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/strategicframework/
	Among the measures included, we propose to increase the level of fixed penalty notices for traffic offences to £80-£100 from the current level of £60.

Employment Agencies

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much his Department spent on (a) recruitment agency fees, (b) outplacement agency fees for displaced or redundant staff and (c) staff training in the last year for which figures are available.

Norman Baker: The Department for Transport was formed in 2002 and is made up of a central Department DfT(C) and seven executive agencies as follows:
	Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA)
	Highways Agency (HA)
	Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA)
	Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)
	Driving Standards Agency (DSA)
	Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA)
	Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA).
	This response includes both the central Department and the executive agencies.
	(a) The last financial year for which the DfT has data is 2009-10. The recorded spend on recruitment agencies fees in terms of search and selection for this period was £6,128,339 (the following table shows the breakdown across the Department).
	
		
			 Department/agency Amount spent (£) 
			 DfT(C) 4,110,802 
			 DVLA 33,545 
			 HA 618,279 
			 VCA 13,645 
			 MCA 323,270 
			 DSA 218,481 
			 VOSA 264,114 
			 GCDA 546,203 
			 Total 6,128,339 
		
	
	(b) The Department spent £10,950 (excl. VAT) in the last financial year on outplacement fees. This was to provide outplacement support for staff at the Redeployment and Career Advice Centre at DfT(C).
	(c) The last financial year for which the DfT has data is 2009-10. The recorded spend on staff training for DfT during this period was £12,558,897 (the following table shows the breakdown across the Department).
	
		
			 Department/agency Amount spent (£) 
			 DfT(C) 938,300 
			 DVLA 1,389,555 
			 HA 7,531,648 
			 VCA 405,982 
			 MCA 1,209,537 
			 DSA 426,992 
			 VOSA 566,663 
			 GCDA 90,220 
			 Total 12,558,897

High Speed 2 Railway Line: North West

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the potential economic benefit to the North West of High Speed 2.

Philip Hammond: HS2 Ltd estimate that, based on trip origin data, the North West could experience around 23% of the £22 billion benefits of the initial London-West Midlands phase of a new high speed network. The full “Y” shaped high speed rail network, proposed by Government, which would include a direct high speed link to Manchester, has the potential to generate even more significant overall benefits worth £44 billion over the appraisal period, but no assessment has currently been made of the proportions accruing to specific regions.
	In addition to these monetised benefits, a national high speed rail network would have the potential to bring significant strategic economic benefits to the North West through supporting regeneration, job creation, and long-term economic growth.

Level Crossings: Accidents

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many injuries on level crossings there have been in the last five years.

Theresa Villiers: I can confirm that there have been 332 injuries to passengers, members of the public and workforce in the last five years. 43 of these were considered major injuries.

Motor Vehicles: Exhaust Emissions

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to encourage procurement of low-carbon commercial vehicles by (a) the public and (b) the private sector.

Norman Baker: The Government are committed to reducing emissions arising from road transport. To this end, we are supporting a number of measures designed to promote take-up of low carbon commercial vehicles:
	The Low Carbon Vehicle Public Procurement Programme is delivering funding of £9 million to support the introduction of over 200 electric and low carbon vans into a range of different fleets.
	The Green Bus Fund is helping bus operators and local authorities purchase low carbon buses. The fund has delivered over £46 million to support purchase of 526 hybrid and all-electric buses, all of which are expected to be in service by 2012.
	The Government are also supporting the installation of recharging infrastructure needed to support use of electric vehicles. £30 million has been provided through the Government's ‘Plugged-In Places’ programme, which is helping to provide electric vehicle recharging infrastructure in key locations across the UK.

Public Transport: Carbon Emissions

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps his Department is taking to reduce the volume of greenhouse gas emissions arising from public transport; and what expenditure it has incurred on such steps in the latest period for which figures are available.

Norman Baker: As outlined in the Carbon Plan, published in March 2011, the Government are committed to reducing emissions from all sectors, including transport. As part of the overall strategy, the Department for Transport is supporting a number of measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from public transport, including:
	providing £46.8 million to help support the purchase of over 500 new low carbon buses, all of which will be in operation in England by March 2012;
	providing an incentive through the Bus Service Operators Grant (BSOG) scheme to encourage the use of low carbon buses, on which a total of £92,000 was spent in 2009-10.
	Rail electrification is also an important part of the Department's carbon reduction strategy, and we have announced schemes to electrify the routes between Liverpool, Manchester, Preston and Blackpool and the Great Western Main Line.

Public Transport: Vandalism

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he is taking to reduce vandalism on public transport services.

Theresa Villiers: We are committed to reducing crime, antisocial behaviour and the fear of crime wherever it occurs in the transport system. Crime on public transport can best be tackled by industry working together with the police and local authorities to reduce the incidence of vandalism.

Railways: Overcrowding

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions he has had with train operating companies on the deregulation of first class travel on overcrowded commuter services.

Theresa Villiers: Ministers meet with train operating companies on a frequent basis, and a wide variety of topics are discussed. However, there have been no discussions with train operators specifically to discuss the declassification of first class accommodation.
	It is an operational matter for train operators to decide whether to allow holders of standard class tickets to use first class accommodation (where available), as permitted under Condition 39 of the National Rail Conditions of Carriage.

Railways: Tickets

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will discuss with Transport for London an extension of the Oyster card fare payment system to include Slough station.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 13 May 2011
	Officials have discussed the issue with Transport for London and First Group. There are a number of technical, policy and financial considerations which need to be addressed before any decision can be made on whether to extend Oyster out to Slough station.

Roads: Snow and Ice

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether his Department has established a monitoring and forecasting process for salt stocks and supplies as recommended in the Winter Resilience Review interim report.

Norman Baker: holding answer 17 May 2011
	In taking action on the recommendations from the Winter Resilience Review report which were assigned to the Department for Transport, we developed a salt stock monitoring portal system. In co-operation with local highway authorities, Transport for London, the devolved Administrations and the Highways Agency, we undertook regular audits of both local authority and highways agency salt stock levels throughout the winter.
	These audits commenced weekly in early December 2010 and, following an improved weather situation, a decision was taken to suspend them in February 2011.
	In order to inform preparations for next winter, we are currently undertaking a survey of highway authorities to assess their latest salt stock holdings and plans for restocking.
	The Department also worked closely with the domestic salt producers throughout the winter.

Vehicle Number Plates

Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to strengthen the integrity of the number plate regime.

Michael Penning: holding answer 19 May 2011
	The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency has a register of authorised suppliers as a means of controlling the availability of number plates.
	There is evidence that despite this control, number plates are obtained illegally and used for criminal activities.
	Officials will continue to review the system to see what improvements could be made to strengthen the regime and tackle crime.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the level of farming incomes; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave her on 3 February 2011, Official Report, column 1026. The latest forecasts of farm incomes, published in January, can be found on the DEFRA website at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/statistics/files/defra-stats-fbs-farm-business-income-1101.pdf
	Actual farm incomes from the Farm Business Survey for 2010-11 will be published at the end of October.

Air Pollution

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the European Commission on UK compliance with EU air quality limits.

Richard Benyon: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs met with Commissioner Potocnik on 27 January to discuss a range of issues of interest to DEFRA including progress being made towards compliance with EU air quality limits.

Animal Welfare: Circuses

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consideration she has given to proposals to require circuses to adopt the minimum standards for keeping animals required of zoos.

James Paice: We have been working with representatives of animal welfare organisations and the circus industry to consider this and many other proposals on the use of wild animals in circuses to establish our policy on this issue.
	On 13 May 2011, Official Report, column 48WS, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman), announced plans to consult on a new licensing system for the use of wild animals in circuses. The Government will consult on the welfare standards, which will be drawn up following discussion with welfare experts and other interested parties.

Animal Welfare: Circuses

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to announce the outcome of her Department's consultation on the use of wild animals in circuses.

James Paice: On 13 May 2011, Official  Report, column 48WS, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman), announced plans to consult on a new licensing system for the use of wild animals in circuses. The Government will consult on the welfare standards, which will be drawn up following discussion with welfare experts and other interested parties.

Animal Welfare: Seized Articles

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance her Department issues to police forces on the animal welfare considerations to be taken into account when seizing animals as part of a police action.

James Paice: No specific guidance is issued to police on the welfare considerations of seized animals. However, at the time the Animal Welfare Act 2006 was introduced, police forces were provided with explanatory notes. These notes set out the responsibilities of owners and keepers of animals, whether on a permanent or temporary basis.
	When animals are seized we would expect police forces to work closely with organisations such as the RSPCA to ensure that welfare needs are met.

Bees

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions she has had with professional beekeeper representative organisations on establishing the UK Apiculture Programme;
	(2)  how much of the funding from the EU under the UK Apiculture Programme was spent on professional beekeepers in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(3)  what funding the Government receive from the EU for the purposes of improving production and marketing of honey and other bee products under the UK Apiculture Programme.

James Paice: The UK Apiculture Programme for the period 2010-13 was submitted to the European Commission for approval in April 2010. This programme provides partial reimbursement of up to 50% of member states' own expenditure. Beekeeping stakeholders, including the Bee Farmers' Association which represents commercial beekeepers, were consulted on the 2010-13 programme before submission to the Commission.
	In England, the Apiculture Programme focuses on helping beekeepers through the provision of technical advice via inspection visits and a comprehensive training and education programme for all beekeepers, both professional and amateur. The programme in England is implemented by the National Bee Unit, part of the Food and Environment Research Agency, where the expenditure on this was £252,000 in 2008, £254,000 in 2009 and £268,000 in 2010 from the UK allocations. The devolved Administrations have their own programmes.
	The European Commission has increased its funding to the programme for 2010-13, and as a result member states' allocations have increased. England's allocation is around £465,000 for each year of the programme.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Berkshire

Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many instances of bovine TB were reported in Berkshire in each of the last five years.

James Paice: The following table shows the number of new Bovine TB instances in Berkshire in each of the last five years.
	
		
			  Total new herd incidents 
			 2006 1 
			 2007 4 
			 2008 3 
		
	
	
		
			 2009 2 
			 2010 7 
			 Source: DEFRA’s Animal Health Database (Vetnet)

Departmental Responsibilities

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the cost of her Department’s Rural and Farming Network in each of the next four years.

James Paice: holding answer 13 May 2011
	After years of estrangement between the rural communities and the previous Government, we are now establishing strong relationships with people living and working in rural areas. The Rural and Farming Network is an important part of this work.
	DEFRA’s Farming and Food Chain Programme and Rural Communities Policy Unit will provide a joint secretariat to support the development and operation of the Rural and Farming Network. We have not identified a separate cost as this will be part of business as usual and we do not yet know the size of the network. The individual groups which make up the network will be self-supporting and not reliant on central Government funding.

Energy: National Policy Statements

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely effects of the national policy statement framework on the expansion of renewable technologies.

Charles Hendry: I have been asked to reply
	, as I have responsibility for the national policy statements (NPS) that apply to renewable energy technologies.
	The revised draft Overarching NPS (EN-1) sets out Government’s policy and targets for renewable electricity generation, with around 33 GW of new renewable capacity needed by 2025. The NPSs will facilitate this investment by providing a planning framework that gives more certainty and clarity to developers about how their proposals will be assessed within the Planning Act regime.

Farmers: Subsidies

Edward Timpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many eligible claims for the Single Payment Scheme are outstanding to farmers in Crewe and Nantwich constituency; and what the combined value of such claims is.

James Paice: The Rural Payments Agency does not record information on payments to farmers on a constituency basis. The information requested could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Farming

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she plans to take in response to the Foresight report on global food and farming futures; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: In response to the Foresight report the Government plan to take the following actions:
	Champion a more integrated approach by governments and international institutions to global food security that makes links with climate change, poverty, biodiversity, energy and other policies.
	Explore further with Foresight, the United Nations (UN) High-Level Task Force on the Food Security Crisis and UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) the concept of a 'food system dashboard' to support this integrated approach, monitoring progress and key areas of uncertainty across the whole food system.
	Continue to press for full integration of agricultural greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change process; take forward Nagoya work on international biodiversity; and promote the importance of sustainable intensification of agriculture more broadly.
	Continue to press for reform of the common agricultural policy and common fisheries policy so they are better focused on long-term environmental sustainability and avoid harmful subsidies; support the EU as it seeks to negotiate a genuinely pro-poor conclusion to the Doha Development Round which includes a significant opening of agricultural markets; and plan an active role in talks in the G20, FAO and elsewhere aimed at finding ways of managing volatility.
	Showcase what can be achieved on food waste reduction within the UK, working with other countries and multinational companies to share and disseminate good practice.
	Work in partnership with our whole food chain, including consumers, to ensure the UK leads the way on sustainable intensification of agriculture, increasing the productivity and competitiveness of UK farming and the UK food chain while reducing GHG emissions, protecting and enhancing the natural environment and using resources more sustainably, so that agriculture and the food sector can contribute fully to the green economy.

Farms: Inspections

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what steps she has taken to (a) harmonise and (b) reduce the number of inspections of farms;
	(2)  what steps she has taken to reduce paperwork for farmers; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: In July last year I set up a Task Force on Farming Regulation to identify ways to reduce regulatory burdens on farmers and to advise on how best to achieve a risk-based system of regulation. The task force has consulted widely and met with farming organisations and others to obtain their views. The recommendations of the task force were published on 17 May and we are considering them carefully.

Fishery Agreements: Morocco

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what categories of fishing were allocated to UK vessels under the terms of the EU-Moroccan Fisheries Partnership Agreement 2007.

Richard Benyon: The UK was allocated a quota of 2,500 tonnes of pelagic species under category 6 of the EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement.

Fishery Agreements: Morocco

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many licences (a) were allocated to the UK under the EU-Moroccan Fisheries Partnership Agreement when the agreement came into force in February 2007 and (b) the UK held when the Agreement expired in February 2011.

Richard Benyon: The UK was allocated two licences under the EU-Moroccan Fisheries Partnership Agreement when the agreement came into force in February 2007.
	When the agreement expired in February 2011, the UK still held two licences.

Food: Commodity Markets

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate her Department has made of the effect of commodity speculation on food prices.

James Paice: We have seen no conclusive evidence that speculation is leading to increased food price volatility, which is why we do not support calls for further controls on speculation. Furthermore, farmers need liquid markets so they can hedge their price risk. We prefer to tackle food price volatility at its roots through measures to improve the flow of information to the markets, restrict export bans and invest in productivity.

Heathrow Airport: Air Pollution

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what recent assessment she has made of the levels of particulate matter 10 in the air at Heathrow airport and in the surrounding area;
	(2)  what recent assessment she has made of levels of nitrogen dioxide in the air at Heathrow airport and in the surrounding area.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA undertakes air quality monitoring of various pollutants at two sites in the area surrounding Heathrow. The sites are known as London Hillingdon:
	http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/networks/aurn-site-info?site_id=HIL
	and London Harlington:
	http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/networks/aurn-site-info?site_id=HRL
	Further information on these two stations and real time and historic data from the stations are available online at:
	http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/
	Ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM10) concentrations across the whole of the UK have been recently modelled in order to assess compliance with the EU ambient air quality directive. Annual mean concentrations have been calculated for urban background locations on a 1km x 1km grid and values for roadside concentrations have been calculated for over 9,000 individual urban roads. The most recent assessment for which results are available covers 2009.
	The highest modelled background PM10 concentration in the Heathrow area is in the north-east of the airport (grid reference for the centre of the 1 km x 1 km square of 508500, 176500) with an annual mean concentration of 22.0 ugm-3. The highest modelled roadside PM10 concentration in the Heathrow area is along the A4 north of the airport (censusid 16112) with an annual mean concentration of 25.4 ugm-3.
	The highest modelled background NO2 concentration in the Heathrow area is in the centre of the airport (grid reference for the centre of the 1km x 1km square of 507500, 175500) with an annual mean concentration of 49.7 ugm-3. The highest modelled roadside NO2 concentration in the Heathrow area is along the A4 north of the airport (censusid 16112) with an annual mean concentration of 66.5 ugm-3.
	More information on the 2009 assessment is available at:
	http://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/library/annualreport/viewonline?year=2009b&jump=3

Heathrow Airport: Air Pollution

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the merits of meeting EU air quality limits for nitrogen dioxide at Heathrow airport and the surrounding area through the development of a sustainable framework for UK aviation.

Richard Benyon: The consultation document ‘Developing a sustainable framework for UK aviation: scoping document’ published by the Department for Transport in March, recognises that aviation contributes to nitrogen dioxide pollution near airports through aircraft engine emissions, airport operations and road transport to and from airports. In addition, it recognises that Government, as well as airport operators and local authorities, have a role to play in working towards compliance as quickly as possible. The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the right hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs Spelman), has had no recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport on the specific issue of air quality around Heathrow airport. However, she meets regularly with the Secretary of State for Transport to discuss a range of environmental matters, and officials are working together constructively on the development of the sustainable framework for UK aviation.

Lighting: Carbon Emissions

Iain Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether she plans to review statutory requirements for advice to be printed on the packaging of low energy light bulbs on action to be taken in the event of breakage;
	(2)  whether she plans to review and update her Department's advice to consumers on (a) the disposal of low energy light bulbs and (b) the precautions to be taken in the event of breakage.

James Paice: EU regulation 244/2009 requires the provision of free access websites containing information on what to do in the event of a low energy light bulb breaking, and for the website links to be provided on packaging. This is not expected to be reviewed until 2014 when the Commission will review the regulation.
	The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Regulations 2006 (as amended) also place an obligation on distributors of household EEE to provide their customers with information on the arrangements through which they can dispose of WEEE, including low energy light bulbs, free of charge. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, which is the lead Department for the WEEE regulations, does not have plans to review or amend these obligations. However, negotiations regarding proposals for a recast of the EU WEEE directive, the basis of the UK regulations, are ongoing in Europe.
	The relevant advice to consumers on precautions to be taken in the event of a breakage is issued by the Health Protection Agency. There are no plans to update this advice.
	Advice on the disposal of low energy light bulbs under the WEEE regulations is provided through a number of channels. There are no plans to review or update the advice to consumers on disposal of low energy light bulbs.

Livestock

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she has taken to ensure that consumers are able to identify whether meat produce has come from a high-intensity industrial farm.

James Paice: The Government are committed to honesty in food labelling and we have facilitated the development of industry owned principles(1) which provide consumers with clearer information on the origin of their food. We want clarity and transparency for those consumers who choose to buy produce based on its origin, particularly if they believe they are buying British.
	The EU does not require member states to label meat with the type of farm from which it has been reared. It is incorrect to assume that animal welfare is directly linked to farm size, or system of production. The most important influence on the welfare of farm animals is the knowledge, skills and experience of the farmers who care for them. However, where there are no legal requirements, businesses are able to provide information on production systems on a voluntary basis if they choose.
	UK farms operate to some of the highest welfare standards in the world.
	(1) ( )http://www.brc.org.uk/downloads/principles_on_country_of _origin_information_241110.doc

Livestock

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the effect on smaller farms of the introduction of factory-style farms and high-intensity industrial farming.

James Paice: No such assessment has been made. However, the Government believe that there is a place in UK agriculture for all sustainable production systems that meet welfare and environmental standards, so that the industry can meet varied consumer demands and be competitive on UK, EU and global markets.

Pigs

Justin Tomlinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the effect on the welfare of pigs of high-intensity industrial farming.

James Paice: No such assessment has been made. However, all farm animals, in whatever system they are kept, are protected by comprehensive animal welfare legislation which requires some of the highest standards of animal welfare in the world. In England, the Animal Welfare Act 2006 makes it an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to any animal. The Act also contains a duty of care to animals; this means that anyone responsible for an animal must take reasonable steps to make sure the animal's needs are met. These general requirements are supplemented by more detailed ones for pigs in the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007, which lay down requirements in respect of general welfare, inspection, housing and feeding for all farmed animals.
	There is also a Code of Recommendations for Livestock: Pigs, published on the DEFRA website, which farmers are required by law to have access to, and be familiar with, which encourages high standards of husbandry.
	It is also important to recognise that poor welfare may occur in both intensive and extensive systems. The most significant influence on the welfare of livestock is the stock-keeper, not the system in which is it reared.

Sustainable Development

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what definition of sustainable development her Department uses.

Richard Benyon: On 28 February, the Government set out their vision of sustainable development as an approach which allows us to realise our vision of stimulating economic growth, tackling the deficit, maximising well-being and protecting our environment. This should be achieved without negatively impacting on the ability of future generations to do the same.

Sustainable Development

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent meetings she has had with ministerial colleagues to discuss the Government's Plan for Growth.

Richard Benyon: The Government's Plan for Growth was published alongside the Budget. It builds on action taken at the spending review to restore economic stability and is the result of 12 growth reviews set up to look at barriers to growth and what Government can do to address them. Ministerial discussions were had in the usual course of business in the lead up to the Budget.

Veterinary Services

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what expenditure her Department has incurred on veterinary services in each of the last five years.

James Paice: The budgets of the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD), the Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) and Animal Health (AH), all of which provide and support veterinary services, for each of the last five years are set out in the following table.
	
		
			 £ million 
			  VMD VLA AH 
			 2006-07 3.3 100.3 112.1 
			 2007-08 3.3 101.0 118.6 
			 2008-09 3.5 96.2 116.5 
			 2009-10 3.7 95.7 134.0 
			 2010-11(1) 3.4 74.5 126.4 
			 (1) Forecast out-turn.

Water

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to publish her proposed White Paper on water industry reform.

Richard Benyon: Following the launch of DEFRA's Business Plan, we anticipate publishing the Water White Paper by December 2011.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to respond to Question 51051, on neonicotinoid pesticides tabled on 31 March 2011 for answer on 4 April 2011.

James Paice: I answered question 51051 on 26 April 2011, Official Report, columns 21-22W.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Trade Unions

Dominic Raab: To ask the Attorney-General how many staff of (a) the Law Officers' Departments, (b) the National Fraud Authority and (c) the Treasury Solicitor's Department are entitled to work (i) full-time as trade union representatives and (ii) part-time on trade union activities; how many such staff are paid more than £25,900 annually; and what the cost to the public purse of employing such staff on such duties was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Edward Garnier: There are no full-time trade union representatives in the Treasury Solicitor's Department or the Attorney-General's Office. Six members of staff work part-time on trade union activities. Of these six members of staff, four are paid more than £25,900 annually. The total cost of employing these staff on trade union duties in 2010-11 was £65,092.
	During 2009-10, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had 10 full-time trade union representatives and 213 staff undertaking union activities on a part-time basis. 138 staff were paid more than £25,900 during the period 2009-10. The cost of employing these staff on trade union duties in 2009-10 was approximately £750,000.
	Seven members of staff in the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) work part-time on trade union activities. A new consultation framework and facilities agreement was signed by the SFO and the three recognised trade unions (FDA, Prospect and PCS) in January 2011. In accordance with the ACAS Code of Practice “Time off for Trades Union Duties and Activities” this agreement granted each trade union a total of 50 days per year for all trade union activity undertaken by their representatives. The estimated total annual cost of facility time is £21,000. The SFO does not hold any historical information on the cost to the public purse of trade union representatives.
	All current trade union representatives are paid more than £25,900 per year.
	HMCPSI has a Whitley Council which meets quarterly and is attended by FDA and PCS representatives—currently there are (a) two representatives from the FDA and one from PCS.
	HMCPSI follow the ACAS Code of Practice “Time off for Trades Union Duties and Activities” and where it is necessary for union representatives to devote time to specific activities on personal cases, this is done by agreement with their line manager. No formal record is maintained. Two of the representatives have an annual salary of more than £25,900 and it is estimated that representatives spend, five days or less on union related actives each year. It is not possible to give a more accurate cost as no formal records are kept.
	The National Fraud Authority (NFA) now falls under the responsibilities of the Home Office and any requests for information relating to NFA should be addressed to the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Departmental Temporary Employment

John McDonnell: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how many non-permanent staff of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission are paid a daily sum of (a) £1,000 or more, (b) between £750 and £1,000, (c) between £500 and £750 and (d) between £250 and £500 inclusive of VAT for their work with the Commission.

Lynne Featherstone: holding answer 13 May 2011
	The Equality and Human Rights Commission (the Commission) is an arm’s length body; the following is based on information it has provided.
	The Commission’s daily rates of pay are set excluding VAT. The Commission does not separately hold details of VAT payments to non-permanent staff.
	The daily sums for non-permanent staff, exclusive of VAT, are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of non-permanent staff 
			 Daily sum of £1,000 or more 0 
			 Daily sum between £750 and £1,000 4 
			 Daily sum between £500 and £750 12 
			 Daily sum between £250 and £500 11

Gender Recognition

Meg Hillier: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what meetings the Minister for Equalities held with transgender groups to discuss the policy of the Government Equalities Office on equality between her appointment and 28 June 2010.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government have published “Working for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGB and T) Equality”. This ambitious work plan outlines actions Government will take to advance LGB and T equality. In particular, it commits Government to work with transgender groups to develop a programme of specific action for transgender equality and to publish this action plan in 2011.
	Between my appointment and the 28 June 2010, I had a telephone conversation with the Gender Identity Research and Education Society covering various issues affecting the transgender community.
	I will be meeting with transgender groups as part of the development of the Transgender Action Plan.

Trade Unions

Priti Patel: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how many civil servants in the Government Equalities Office spent the equivalent of (a) five days or fewer, (b) five to 10 days, (c) 10 to 15 days, (d) 15 to 20 days, (e) 20 to 25 days and (f) 25 days or more on trade union-related activities or duties while being paid salaries from the public purse in each year since 2007.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government Equalities Office (GEO) has had one elected trade union official in post since 2009, who is allocated a facility time allowance of up to 26 days a year.
	The GEO representative has used the full allowance permitted since 2009.

Trade Unions

Dominic Raab: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities how many staff of the Government Equalities Office are entitled to work (a) full-time as trade union representatives and (b) part-time on trade union activities; how many such staff are paid more than £25,900 annually; and what the cost to the public purse of employing such staff on such duties was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government Equalities Office has one member of staff who works part-time on trade union activities. Their annual salary is in excess of £25,900. The annual cost of employing them on trade union activities was £2,784 for the 2010-11 financial year.

PRIME MINISTER

Scottish Grand Committee

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Prime Minister if he will instruct the Secretary of State for Scotland to table a motion for the Scottish Grand Committee to sit.

David Cameron: The Secretary of State for Scotland, my right hon. Friend the Member for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk (Michael Moore), will continue to debate and discuss issues relating to Scotland with Members of Parliament and other colleagues.

Special Advisers: Disciplinary Proceedings

Caroline Flint: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions disciplinary action has been taken against special advisers since May 2010.

David Cameron: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for West Bromwich East (Mr Watson) on 15 November 2010, Official Report, column 565W.

WALES

Trade Unions

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many staff of her Department are entitled to work (a) full-time as trade union representatives and (b) part-time on trade union activities; how many such staff are paid more than £25,900 annually; and what the cost to the public purse of employing such staff on such duties was in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Jones: We are too small a Department to warrant a full-time trade union representative and currently have no one undertaking part-time activities. Trade union support to staff is currently provided through the Ministry of Justice. The last time anyone undertook such activities was 2009-10 when one member of staff at Band C spent the equivalent of 1.5 days in total on trade union-related activities or duties facility time.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

House of Lords: Reform

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to engage the public in his proposals on House of Lords reform.

Mark Harper: The Government published a White Paper and draft Bill on 17 May, which will be subject to pre-legislative scrutiny by a Joint Committee of both Houses. We expect this Committee will call for evidence and receive representations. The Government also welcome all contributions.

House of Lords: Reform

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether he has assessed the merits of holding a referendum on options for House of Lords reform.

Mark Harper: At the last election, all three main political parties were committed to reform of the House of Lords. The Government consider they should move forward on this issue and published a White Paper and draft Bill for pre-legislative scrutiny on 17 May.

Members: Conduct

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his forthcoming legislative proposals for the recall of hon. Members from their constituencies will apply to instances of misconduct committed before the entry into force of the proposed legislation.

Mark Harper: The Government are committed to bringing forward legislation to introduce a power to recall Members of Parliament. We are currently considering what would be the fairest, most appropriate and robust procedure and we will announce the details of our proposals before the summer recess.

Voting Rights: Prisoners

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of compensation payments for prisoners not enfranchised if proposed changes to the law on prisoner voting are not implemented.

Mark Harper: As the Attorney-General made clear during the Commons debate on this issue on 10 February 2011, Official Report, column 526, it is very difficult to make an accurate estimate of the cost to the public purse, since we cannot know the number of prisoners that may bring a claim, nor can we be certain exactly how much compensation each prisoner might be awarded.
	However, if the entire UK sentenced population in the prison system (over 70,000 prisoners) were to bring claims, and on the basis that about £1,000 to £1,500 of compensation and costs might have to be paid in each case, clearly the matter has the potential to be very costly.

Voting Rights: Prisoners

Priti Patel: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will notify the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe of (a) the decision of the House on and (b) the results of the division on the motion on Voting by Prisoners of 10 February 2011, Votes and Proceedings, No. 115; and if he will register with (i) the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, (ii) the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and (iii) the Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe on objection to the contents of press release 283(2011) issued by the Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg.

Mark Harper: No. It is the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers that is responsible for supervising the implementation of European Court of Human Rights' judgments. The Government notified the Committee of Ministers of the outcome of the recent backbench debate on prisoner voting rights in an Information Note provided ahead of the 1,108(th) meeting. The Information Note is available on the Committee of Ministers' website:
	https://wcd.coe.int/wcd/ViewDoc.jsp?id=1753877&Site=CM &BackColorInternet=C3C3C3&BackColorIntranet=EDB021 &BackColorLogged=F5D383
	I understand that the Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr Hammarberg, requested a bilateral meeting with the Secretary of State for Justice at the “High level Conference on the Future of the European Court of Human Rights” which took place in Izmir, Turkey on 26 and 27 April 2011. At that meeting, the Secretary of State for Justice was clear that the Court must focus on truly important cases and have proper regard to the judgment of national Parliaments and courts.

Voting Rights: Prisoners

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to enfranchise convicted prisoners in line with the ruling from the European Court of Human Rights.

Mark Harper: The Government asked the European Court of Human Rights to reconsider its recent judgment on prisoner voting rights (known as “Greens and MT”)—and was disappointed that the request was refused. The UK has six months from the date of the judgment becoming final to bring forward legislative proposals to amend the law on prisoner voting. The Government are considering the next steps.

CABINET OFFICE

Departmental Travel

Maria Eagle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much each executive agency of his Department has spent on travel by (a) private hire vehicles, (b) trains, (c) buses, (d) commercial aircraft and (e) private aircraft since May 2010.

Francis Maude: Between May 2010 and March 2011 the Cabinet Office's Executive agency, Buying Solutions, reduced expenditure on travel by 26% (compared with the same period in 2009-10) to £870,066. During that period the agency spent £13,043 on private hire vehicles, £522,827 on trains, £541 on buses, and £115,688 on commercial air travel. The agency did not spend anything on private aircrafts.

Departmental Travel

Maria Eagle: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much has been spent on travel in respect of (a) each of his Department's Executive agencies and (b) the chief executive of each such agency since May 2010.

Francis Maude: Between May 2010 and March 2011 the Cabinet Office's Executive agency, Buying Solutions, reduced expenditure on travel by 26% (compared with the same period in 2009-10) to £870,066. Of that total, £15,987 was incurred by the previous chief executive of the agency.

Government Departments: Correspondence

Alison McGovern: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the standard response time is for Government Departments to reply to letters from hon. Members on constituents' concerns or requests for information.

Francis Maude: The standard response target for responding to correspondence from hon. Members is 20 working days though a number of Departments have set themselves more demanding targets of 15 working days or less.

Mortality Rates

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what the mortality rates of (a) (i) widows and (ii) widowers under the age of 35 and (b) the general population were in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what the five most frequent causes of death in (a) widows and (b) widowers under the age of 35 were in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(3)  what the age-standardised death rate per 100,000 men between age 40 and 69 who (a) smoke and (b) do not smoke and who were (i) married, (ii) single, (iii) divorced, (iv) widowed and (v) cohabiting was in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(4)  which 100 wards had the highest mortality rate in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Hurd: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck
	As Director General for the Office for National Statistics, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Questions asking:
	1. What the mortality rates of (a) (i) widows and (ii) widowers under the age of 35 and (b) the general population were in each of the last five years. (56729)
	2. What the five most frequent causes of death in (a) widows and (b) widowers under the age of 35 were in the latest period for which figures are available. (56730)
	3. What the age-standardised death rate per 100,000 men between age 40 and 69 who (a) smoke and (b) do not smoke and who were (i) married, (ii) single, (iii) divorced, (iv) widowed and (v) cohabiting was in the latest period for which figures are available. (56846)
	4. Which 100 wards had the highest mortality rate in the latest period for which figures are available. (56848)
	Table 1(a) attached provides the number of deaths, mid-year population estimates and age-specific mortality rates for widowed men and women aged under 35, in England and Wales, for 2005 to 2009 (the latest year available).
	Table 1(b) attached provides the age-standardised mortality rates for males and females of all ages, in England and Wales, for 2005 to 2009 (the latest year available).
	Age-standardised rates are standardised to the European Standard Population and they are used to allow comparison between populations which may contain different proportions of people of different ages. It is ONS policy not to calculate age-standardised rates where there are less than 10 deaths in a group, as standardised rates based on small numbers of events are susceptible to inaccurate interpretation. Therefore age-specific rates have been provided in Table 1(a).
	Information on the marital status of the deceased is supplied at death registration in confidence, under the Population (Statistics) Acts. Due to the small numbers of deaths of widowed men and women aged under 35, information on frequently recorded causes of death have not be provided, in line with the ONS policy on protecting confidentiality within birth and death statistics.
	Table 2 attached provides the age-standardised mortality rate per 100,000 population, for men aged between 40 and 69 who were (i) married (ii) single, (iii) divorced and (iv) widowed, in England and Wales, for the year 2009 (the latest year available).
	It is not possible to provide mortality rates for people who smoke (3a) and do not smoke (3b) or people who are cohabiting (3v), as information on the deceased's smoking status and living arrangements is not collected at death registration.
	Table 3 provides the 100 wards which had the highest mortality rates, in England and Wales, for 2009 (the latest year available). A copy has been placed in the House of Commons Library.
	The number of deaths registered in England and Wales each year by sex, age, cause, marital status, and place of death are published annually on the National Statistics website at:
	www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=15096
	
		
			 Table 1a: Number of deaths, mid-year population estimates and age-specific mortality rates for widowed men and women aged under 35, England and Wales, 2005  -  09  (1,2,3,4) 
			 Rate per 100,000 population 
			  Male Female 
			  Deaths Population Rate Deaths Population Rate 
			 2005 3 3,700 81 6 8,700 69 
			 2006 5 3,500 143 8 8,200 98 
			 2007 4 3,300 121 11 7,600 145 
			 2008 4 3,200 125 14 7,300 192 
			 2009 3 3,100 97 7 7,000 100 
			 (1) Population estimates and deaths for widowed men and women exclude men and women who were surviving civil partners.  (2) Populations estimates for widowed men and women are rounded to the nearest 100 and include figures for those who have married abroad.  (3) Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non-residents.  (4) Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 1b: Age-standardised mortality rates for males and females, in England and Wales, 2005  -  09  (1,2,3,4) 
			 Rate per 100,000 population 
			  Male Female 
			   95% confidence intervals  95% confidence intervals 
			  Rate Lower limit Upper limit Rate Lower limit Upper limit 
			 2005 738 735 741 519 517 521 
			 2006 713 710 715 499 497 501 
			 2007 695 692 698 492 490 494 
			 2008 685 683 688 490 488 492 
			 2009 657 655 660 463 461 465 
			 (1) Age-standardised mortality rates per 100,000 population, standardised to the European Standard Population. Age-standardised rates are used to allow comparison between populations which may contain different proportions of people of different ages.  (2) Confidence intervals are a measure of the statistical precision of an estimate and show the range of uncertainty around the estimated figure. Calculations based on small numbers of events are often subject to random fluctuations. As a general rule, if the confidence interval around one figure overlaps with the interval around another, we cannot say with certainty that there is more than a chance difference between the two figures.  (3) Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non-residents.  (4) Figures are for deaths registered in 2009. 
		
	
	
		
			 Table 2: Age-standardised mortality rates for men aged 40 to 69 by marital status, England and Wales, 2009  (1,2,3,4,5) 
			 Rate per 100,000 population 
			   95% confidence intervals 
			 Marital status Rate Lower limit Upper limit 
			 Single 1,029 1,011 1,047 
			 Married 443 438 448 
			 Divorced 881 865 897 
			 Widowed 916 882 950 
			 (1) Age-standardised mortality rates per 100,000 population, standardised to the European Standard Population. Age-standardised rates are used to allow comparison between populations which may contain different proportions of people of different ages.  (2) Confidence intervals are a measure of the statistical precision of an estimate and show the range of uncertainty around the estimated figure. Calculations based on small numbers of events are often subject to random fluctuations. As a general rule, if the confidence interval around one figure overlaps with the interval around another, we cannot say with certainty that there is more than a chance difference between the two figures.  (3) Mortality rates for men in current or dissolved civil partnerships or who are surviving civil partners are not given as population estimates are not available.  (4) Figures for England and Wales include deaths of non-residents.  (5) Figures are for deaths registered in 2009.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Departmental Research

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what (a) longitudinal and (b) other (i) research and (ii) collection of data his Department has (A) initiated, (B) terminated and (C) amended in the last 12 months; and what such research and data collection exercises undertaken by the Department have not been amended in that period.

Gregory Barker: DECC Commissions significant volumes of research and data collection. DECC will be publishing a Science and Innovation Strategy in July that will set out our approach to evidence collection and research, and this document will provide information on science research projects.
	DECC conducts a number of statistical surveys and an annual report that list these is published by the Government Statistical Service at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=12732
	Since the last publication of this report, DECC has been reviewing the data collection for local authorities carbon emissions and has also stopped the data collection for the local authority fuel poverty indicator (which has been replaced by central modelling for all LAs by DECC). DECC statistics are available on the DECC website at:
	http://decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/statistics/statistics.aspx

Energy: Housing

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take to ensure that vulnerable elderly people are able to participate in the Green Deal scheme.

Gregory Barker: In recognition that some households may need additional support to benefit from energy efficiency improvements available through the Green Deal, we are developing an energy company obligation that will focus on the needs of the poor and vulnerable, including the elderly in those groups.

Energy: Prices

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change with reference to page 82 of the Plan for Growth, what timetable his Department has set for the publication of a framework to cap the effects of levy-funded support on energy bills.

Gregory Barker: The Control Framework for DECC levy-funded spending referred to on page 82 of the Plan for Growth has already been published and is available on HM Treasury's website:
	http://hm-treasury.gov.uk/psr_controlframework_decc.htm

Energy: Sales

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what his Department’s policy is on implementing Ofgem’s recent recommendation in its retail market review that all telesale approaches made to micro-businesses should be recorded.

Charles Hendry: We support the proposals set out by Ofgem in its recent report on the retail market review. It is open to Ofgem to consider and implement any changes in the regulation of the market to ensure it works in the interests of consumers. This includes the introduction of new rules governing telephone sales activities in the micro-business sector.

Energy: Telecommunications

Oliver Colvile: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will bring forward proposals to ban the use of roll-over energy contracts in the telecommunications market.

Charles Hendry: As the independent regulator, it is for Ofgem to consider the need for additional regulatory protection in the retail supply market. In its recent Retail Market Review, Ofgem proposed to prevent suppliers automatically rolling customers on to a new fixed term product without their express consent and asked for consultation responses by 1 June 2011. Details of the proposal are available at:
	http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Markets/RetMkts/Compet/Documents1/Decision_letter_FINAL.pdf

Fuels: Prices

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the potential long-term effect on global fuel prices of trends in the economies of (a) Brazil, (b) the Russian Federation, (c) India and (d) China.

Charles Hendry: The Department of Energy and Climate Change publishes a range of scenarios for oil, gas and coal price assumptions for the period up to 2030, which are used in the Department’s analytical work. The analysis to produce these scenarios has considered the impact of global economic growth. The range of fuel prices produced illustrates the high level of uncertainty around future price drivers such as global economic growth rates. The higher fuel price scenarios capture the impact of strong growth in emerging economies.
	These assumptions can be found on the Department’s website at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/statistics/projections/file51365.pdf

Oil: Prices

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2011, Official Report, column 582W, on fuel: prices, what recent assessment he has made of the potential effects of speculation on oil prices following recent movements in the price of oil.

Charles Hendry: The Government have not made any further assessment on the potential effects of speculation on oil prices following the recent oil price movements, beyond the assessment in the answer I gave on 17 March 2011, Official Report, column 582W.

Radioactive Waste

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the answer of 3 May 2011, Official Report, columns 693-94W, on radioactive waste, what proportion of the high level waste (HLW) inventory is (a) high activity liquor and (b) vitrified HLW; what quantities of HLW and other radioactive waste streams he estimates will be created from the spent fuel from a possible future new build programme; and if he will provide the radiological value for each of the waste volume totals listed in his reply.

Charles Hendry: High Level Waste is a by-product from the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel and arises in the UK initially as a radioactive liquid. Sellafield Ltd continues to use vitrification technology to condition liquid HLW into a form that can be passively stored for many decades until transported to a Geological Disposal Facility. The total radioactive content for all HLW in stock is about 80,000,000 TBq which is about 95% of the total radioactive content of all wastes in the UK Radioactive Waste Inventory. Approximately 50% of the total HLW inventory in stock has been conditioned.
	Government are not currently expecting any proposals to reprocess spent fuel from new nuclear power stations and has stated that new nuclear power stations should proceed on the basis that spent fuel will not be reprocessed. Spent fuel is expected to be stored until it can be disposed of. Should proposals for new build reprocessing come forward in the future, they would need to be considered on their merits at the time and the Government would expect to consult on them.
	Small amounts of Intermediate Level Waste (ILW)/Low Level Waste (LLW) will be created from handling new build spent fuel but these are expected to be minimal and have not been calculated separately from overall ILW and LLW estimates.

Radioactive Waste

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what information his Department holds on the quantities of reprocessing waste that have been created at Sellafield and Dounreay reprocessing and waste treatment plants.

Charles Hendry: The 2010 UK Radioactive Waste Inventory (UKRWI) is available online at:
	www.nda.gov.uk/ukinventory/
	and describes stocks of radioactive waste and radioactive materials held in the UK at 1 April 2010 as well as the predicted arisings from the operation and decommissioning of existing nuclear installations.
	It is not possible to specifically identify wastes that have arisen solely from reprocessing activities from the process to compile the 2010 UKRWI. To identify this subset of wastes would require the site operators to perform a further detailed analysis which would have a considerable financial cost. However the latest information, as reported in the 2010 UKRWI, shows the total volume of radioactive waste in stock on 1 April 2010 at Sellafield and Dounreay was:
	
		
			 Location Waste type Waste volume at 1 April 2010 (cubic metres) 
			 Dounreay ILW 4,090 
			  LLW 9,360 
			    
			 Sellafield (Sellafield Ltd) HLW 1,620 
			  ILW 66,500 
			  LLW 6,310 
		
	
	These figures represent stored waste that has arisen from all activities on the sites, including arisings from nuclear power station operations and decommissioning, reprocessing, defence and R&D activities. The figures do not include waste that has already been disposed of or any waste that has been repatriated to overseas customers.

Wind Power: Seas and Oceans

Ian Swales: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what guidance his Department and its predecessors issued on planning consents for offshore wind farms from 2003 to 2007.

Charles Hendry: In 2004 the then Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) issued general guidance on the offshore wind farm consents process. A copy of the guidance can be found at:
	https://www.og.decc.gov.uk/EIP/pages/files/file22990.pdf
	In 2005, the DTI issued two sets of guidance connected to the environmental impact assessment of offshore wind farms dealing with seascape and visual impact (URN 05/1583) and a methodology for the assessing the marine navigation safety risks (URN 05/1948). Both publications can be obtained from DECC publications at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/publications/

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what consideration he has given to the introduction of new safety measures for helicopters operating in Afghanistan;
	(2)  what recent reviews his Department has undertaken of the adequacy of safety measures for helicopters operating in Afghanistan.

Peter Luff: The safety of our helicopters is continuously reviewed. Threats to safety are identified through regular safety inspections, a joint air safety assurance audit was carried out on the task force joint aviation group in February, and discussions between the front-line helicopter users, the Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff for Capability's Staff, and Defence Equipment and Support. These threats are assessed and where possible mitigation is then put in place through new equipment, training, tactics or procedures to ensure that the risk to life cannot practically be reduced further. The Department's aviation safety management systems are subject to formal audit by the Military Aviation Authority.
	As a result of this process, our helicopter fleets have been significantly enhanced to meet the demands of operations in Afghanistan. Investment continues to improve our helicopters' protection against attack, to make landings in Afghanistan's dusty conditions safer, to improve the safety of helicopter fuel systems and to provide better situational awareness for aircrew.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK military personnel served at least one tour in Afghanistan between 2001 and the most recent date for which figures are available.

Nick Harvey: As at 31 March 2011, 103,260 past and present members of the UK armed forces have been identified as having deployed to Afghanistan since 2001. This figure does not include personnel who deployed to Afghanistan between the periods 1 January 2003 and 14 October 2005 for which data is not available.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what specialist training UK armed forces receive on the UK’s commitment to implement UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security prior to deployment to Afghanistan; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: Though UK armed forces personnel do not receive specific training on the implementation of UN Security Council resolution (UNSCR) 1325 prior to the deployment in Afghanistan, all personnel deployed to any operational theatre will undertake, as part of their pre-deployment preparation, law of armed conflict training. This covers issues relevant to UNSCR 1325, such as the status of protected persons including women and children, and the humane treatment of captured persons. Pre-deployment training will also highlight the cultural sensitivities for that country.
	In November 2010, the UK published a revised action plan on UNSCR 1325 following a review by the Ministry of Defence, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department for International Development. The plan includes a commitment to the development and delivery of pre-deployment training on cultural (including gender) awareness for the UK armed forces. The Ministry of Defence is currently developing such training.

Air Force: Redundancy

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 1 March 2011, Official Report, columns 21-22WS, on the armed forces redundancy process, how many service personnel he expects to be made redundant from the Royal Air Force (a) in each region, (b) on each base and (c) at each rank.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 23 May 2011
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 4 March 2011, Official Report, column 639W.

Aircraft Carriers

Graham Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on the inclusion of (a) steam catapults and arrestor hooks and (b) electro-magnetic propulsion units in the design specification of a new aircraft carrier.

Peter Luff: As announced in the strategic defence and security review on 19 October 2010, we will fit one of the Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers with catapults and arrestor gear to operate the more capable carrier variant joint strike fighter.
	Investigations into the aircraft launch and recovery systems—and a wide range of other factors—are under way. At this stage, the US Electro-Magnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) catapult and the US Advanced Arrestor Gear (AAG) recovery system appears to be the most promising solution, though we have not ruled out steam catapults or MK7 arrestor gear.
	We currently expect to take firm decisions on the overall conversion strategy in late 2012.

Armed Forces Day

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will discuss with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government the waiving of fees by local authorities for the closure of roads for events to mark Armed Forces Day.

Peter Luff: The closure of roads and the fees involved are a matter for local authorities. Applications for roads to be closed or for the fees for doing so to be waived should be made directly to the local authority concerned. However, we strongly urge that the public, both as individuals and groups, as well as local authorities, take the opportunity on 25 June 2011 to show their support for the men and women of the armed forces, both current and former, who rise to the very difficult challenge of maintaining the defence of the realm.

Armed Forces: Conditions of Employment

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the statement of 16 May 2011, Official Report, columns 25-42, on armed forces covenant, how increased council tax relief for military personnel serving on operations overseas will be funded.

Peter Luff: The detailed arrangements for funding the increase in council tax relief have yet to be finalised.

EU Law

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the likely effect of the provisions of Directive 2009/81/EC on the UK defence industry; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when he plans to transpose Directive 2009/81/EC into UK law;
	(3)  from which provisions of Directive 2009/81/EC the UK is exempt.

Peter Luff: An assessment of the impacts of the provisions of directive 2009/81/EC was published during both public consultations on implementing the directive, and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) sought specific advice on its impacts, including the effects on industry. A copy has been placed in the Library of the House. A final assessment is being prepared as a result of comments received.
	The MOD plans to transpose directive 2009/81/EC into UK law on 21 August 2011, as required.
	The UK is not exempt from any of the provisions of directive 2009/81/EC. However, the directive does include a number of exemptions for specific procurements which will be considered on a case-by-case basis. These include article 346—known as the “warlike store exemption”—that we can use when we need to put measures in place to protect our essential security interests as well as a number of other exclusions at articles 12 and 13.

Falkland Islands: Military Aircraft

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many quick reaction alert activations have taken place in the Falkland Islands in the last 12 months; and how many aircraft (a) took part and (b) were airborne within the alert time in each such case.

Nick Harvey: In the last 12 months there have been six quick reaction alert activations in the Falkland Islands. These have involved between one and two aircraft and on each occasion the aircraft were airborne within the prescribed alert time.

Falkland Islands: Military Aircraft

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft for which his Department is responsible are permanently based in the Falkland Islands.

Nick Harvey: The following table sets out the aircraft which British Forces South Atlantic Islands has in its permanent establishment:
	
		
			 Aircraft type Number 
			 Hercules C-130J 1 
			 Typhoon FGR4 4 
			 VC-10K 1 
			 Sea King HAR3 2 
			 Sikorsky S61N 2 
		
	
	The Sikorsky aircraft are operated by Brintel. In addition, British forces in the South Atlantic have command of the helicopter operating from the frigate or destroyer assigned to the Atlantic Patrol Task (South).

Improvised Explosive Devices

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the £67 million of additional funding for countering improvised explosive devices announced by the Prime Minister on 10 June 2010, what new capabilities (a) have been and (b) are to be delivered as a result of that funding.

Peter Luff: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given on 15 March 2011, Official Report, column 207W, by the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox).

Joint Strike Fighter Programme

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where joint combat aircraft (a) training, (b) maintenance, (c) overhauls and (d) logistic systems are being developed; and at what cost to the public purse in each such case.

Peter Luff: To meet the joint combat aircraft requirement, we are collaboratively developing a joint strike fighter air system with the US and other international partners, having contributed £1.555 billion to the systems development and demonstration (SDD) phase of the programme, so far. SDD not only develops the aircraft, but also the training system, maintenance and overhaul requirements and associated logistic and information systems.

Joint Strike Fighter Programme

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the number of jobs the joint combat aircraft programme will provide over its lifetime in (a) the UK and (b) each partner nation.

Peter Luff: The Department has not made an estimate of the number of jobs that the joint strike fighter (JSF) programme will provide throughout its life. We do not have any information as to the number of jobs which may be created in other participant nations. However, in the production phase, British companies secured some 15% of the JSF industrial programme estimated at around £35 billion.

Joint Strike Fighter Programme

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how much has been spent in the (a) system design and development phase and (b) production, sustainment and follow-on development phase of the Joint Strike Fighter programme in each year to date;
	(2)  what the budget allocation is for the system design and development phase of the Joint Strike Fighter programme;
	(3)  whether any financial liabilities remain for the system design and development phase of the Joint Strike Fighter programme;
	(4)  how much funding his Department expects to allocate to the production, sustainment and follow-on development phase of the Joint Strike Fighter programme in each of the next four years.

Peter Luff: To meet the Joint Combat Aircraft requirement we are collaboratively developing a Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) air system with the US and other international partners through the JSF Systems Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase.
	The total UK expenditure to date on the SDD phase of JSF is £1,555 million with a final forecasted outturn of the SSD phase of £1,827 million, which is within our formal approval of £2,034 million. Similarly, the total UK spend to date on the Production, Sustainment and Follow-on Development (PSFD) phase is £270 million.
	The total cost of the production, sustainment and follow-on development will be determined when the main investment decision point is made. The Ministry of Defence does not publish estimates of the costs of programmes before this point as to do so would undermine our commercial position.

Libya: Armed Conflict

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the air strike during which it was reported that Saif al-Arab al-Gaddafi was killed was carried out by British forces.

Nick Harvey: It is NATO policy not to release details of which nations have carried out specific air strikes against Gaddafi’s forces.

Libya: Armed Conflict

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Sentinel R1 surveillance aircraft have transferred from Afghanistan to Libya in the last 12 months; and for what length of time in each such case.

Nick Harvey: No Sentinel R1 aircraft have transferred from Afghanistan to support operations in Libya.

Nuclear Weapons

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his policy is on (a) nuclear proliferation and (b) the militarisation of space.

Nick Harvey: The UK is committed to non-proliferation under the terms of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the cornerstone of the international security architecture. We continue to call on all states that have not yet done so to accede to the NPT as non-nuclear-weapon states.
	The UK supports the principle of free access to and use of outer space in accordance with the 1967 Outer Space Treaty.

Nuclear Weapons

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the review of alternatives to the nuclear deterrent to be completed.

Nick Harvey: The review is expected to take around 18 months to complete.

Nuclear Weapons

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the National Security Council will have a formal role in the review of alternatives to the nuclear deterrent.

Nick Harvey: As set out in the Strategic Defence and Security Review (Cm7948), the National Security Council approved the Trident value for money study and decided to proceed with the renewal of Trident and the submarine replacement programme. The aim of the review is to fulfil the coalition programme for Government by assisting the Liberal Democrats to make the case for alternatives: the National Security Council will not have a formal role in the review.

Nuclear Weapons

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to whom the review of alternatives to the nuclear deterrent will report.

Nick Harvey: I will oversee the study and it will report jointly to the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister.

Nuclear Weapons

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much of the cost of the review of alternatives to the nuclear deterrent will be met by (a) the Cabinet Office and (b) his Department.

Nick Harvey: Costs will be met from within existing departmental budgets. It is too early to predict how much will fall to the Cabinet Office and how much to the Ministry of Defence.

Nuclear Weapons

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of staff he plans to allocate to his review of alternatives to the nuclear deterrent; and what budget he plans to allocate to the review.

Nick Harvey: The study will be led by a senior civil servant and a dedicated project manager in the Cabinet Office. They will draw together inputs from a range of experts in the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Defence and other Departments. Costs will be met from within existing departmental budgets.

Special Air Service

Jim Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what his Department's policy is on commenting on matters relating to the Special Air Service;
	(2)  what his Department's policy is on recruitment to the Special Air Service.

Nick Harvey: It is the longstanding policy of this and previous Administrations not ordinarily to comment on matters concerning UK special forces.

Trident Submarines: Safety

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the safety performance in relation to accidents involving a loss of coolant of the proposed reactors for future Trident submariners.

Nick Harvey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10 May 2011, Official Report, columns 1090-91W.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Affordable Housing

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what criteria will be used when making allocations from the New Homes Bonus to (a) eco-towns and (b) other forms of development.

Grant Shapps: The New Homes Bonus is designed to incentivise all increases in housing supply, including new homes, conversions and empty properties brought back into use. It is for local authorities and their communities to decide the type of homes they want and the shape of future development, including proposals for eco-towns.
	For all developments, the New Homes Bonus is based on the council tax from the net increase in effective housing stock with a further enhancement of £350 for affordable homes and will be paid for the following six years. Further details of the calculation are published in the New Homes Bonus—Final Scheme Design on the Department's website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingsupply/newhomesbonus

Allotments

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the implications of the provisions of the Localism Bill for the future provision of allotments by local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Greg Clark: The Localism Bill provides important new opportunities for communities to expand provision of allotments; the number of which have fallen by 17% since 1996 against a rise in waiting list numbers from four people waiting for every 100 plots in 1996 to 57 per 100 plots last year.
	There are a number of measures in the Localism Bill that will enable local people who are interested in food growing and cultivation to play a bigger role in planning, designing, managing and maintaining community green spaces for this purpose.
	New “Neighbourhood Planning” provisions in the Bill will provide communities with a means to boost the amount of space for food growing with powers to protect existing allotments and identify new plots. A referendum at the end of the process ensures communities have the final say on whether a neighbourhood development plan or development order comes into force in their area. 17 communities are currently trialling Neighbourhood Planning, including in Bermondsey where the community is looking at open spaces around council estates being used to provide allotments as part of their neighbourhood plan.
	The “Community Right to Challenge” will give voluntary and community groups the right to express an interest in taking over the running of a local authority service. This will make it easier for local groups with good ideas to put them forward and drive improvement in local services, which will include the management of allotments.
	Through the “Community Right to Buy” provisions in the Bill, the Department is seeking to require local authorities, to maintain a list of land and buildings identified by local people as assets that are of value to them and to give community groups a fair chance to prepare a bid and secure the funding to buy them if they come up for sale on the open market. These facilities could include green spaces from community gardens and parks, to orchards and allotments, and are not restricted to publicly owned land.

Allotments

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to ensure that people on low incomes are not excluded from renting allotments from their local authorities due to the level of charges; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: Local authorities are expected to abide by the relevant legislation, namely section 10 of the 1950 Allotments Act, which states that an allotment must be let at a rent that a tenant may reasonably be expected to pay.
	Advice on the considerations relevant to the setting of rents is set out in section 4 of “Allotments: A plotholders Guide”, available from the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens' website using the following link:
	www.farmgarden.org.uk/ari
	Guidance is also available for local authorities on managing allotment costs in "A Place to Grow"; downloadable from the LGA website at
	www.lga.gov.uk

Common Land

George Freeman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the effects of town or village green applications on rates of construction of new affordable housing; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what recent representations he has received on town or village green applications; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: I have been asked to reply.
	I am aware of the difficulties which some applications to register new town or village greens can cause, particularly where an application is made in response to advanced plans for development of a site, but DEFRA has made no specific assessment of the effects of registration applications on the provision of affordable housing. I also appreciate the importance local communities can place on both open space and new development, and that there has to be confidence that the relevant decision-making processes are working coherently in the interests of the community as a whole.
	I have received representations about the registration system from a number of Members and from others, including in relation to affordable housing, and am considering whether changes to the greens registration system are required. I hope to make an announcement about our plans in the near future.

Common Land

George Freeman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many town and village green applications were made in each of the last five years; what proportion of applications were successful in each such year; what the average length of time taken was to process an application in each such year; and if he will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: I have been asked to reply.
	Registers of town or village greens are held by local authorities, and data on registration activity are not reported to Government. Surveys of registration activity were carried out in late 2007 and late 2009, and the following data are estimated by scaling up for non-responding authorities. Values relate to the number of applications received or determined (as the case may be) in the specified year, and do not indicate the outcome relating to applications received in a particular year. Data collected in 2007 on the time taken to process similar applications under the Commons Registration Act 1965 showed an average period of 16 months among those authorities providing an answer.
	
		
			 Estimated number of greens applications in England, 2005 to September 2009 
			  Number of green applications 
			  In year Determined  (1) Granted Rejected 
			 2009 (to end September) 139 77 17 79 
			 2008 196 73 26 52 
			 2007(2) 143 44 18 35 
			 2006 103 24 8 16 
			 2005 69 48 30 22 
			 (1) Values in this column should equal the sum of the following two columns. However, there are various discrepancies, probably owing to applications considered over several years being assigned to the wrong year. (2) The criteria for application were amended with effect from April 2007, by the implementation of section 15 of the 2006 Act. These data include applications under both the 1965 and 2006 Acts.

Energy Performance Certificates

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 17 May 2011, Official Report, column 147W, on energy performance certificates, what his policy is on requiring all domestic properties in England to have an energy performance certificate.

Andrew Stunell: All domestic properties in England and Wales are required to have an energy performance certificate on the sale, rent or construction of a building. Since 2007 over 6.2 million energy performance certificates have been produced for dwellings.

Fire Services: Manpower

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many firemen there are per head of population.

Bob Neill: The latest numbers of firefighters per head of population in England are shown in the table:
	
		
			 Number of firefighters at 31 March 2010, England 
			  Headcount Headcount per 1,000 heads of population  (1) 
			 Whole-time 29,880 0.58 
			 Retained duty system 14,425 0.28 
			 Total firefighters 44,305 0.86 
			 (1) Calculation based on population for England of 51.8 million Source: “Fire and Rescue Service Operational Statistics”, Department for Communities and Local Government, and Office for National Statistics Mid-year Population Estimates

Homelessness

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the number of households likely to make homelessness applications as a consequence of the overall benefit cap in the 12 months following its introduction.

Grant Shapps: The Government estimate of the number of homelessness applications as a consequence of the overall benefit cap is as contained in the DWP Impact Assessment. The link to the DWP Impact Assessment can be found at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/household-benefit-cap-wr2011-ia.pdf

Housing: Environment Protection

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether strategic environmental assessments will apply to neighbourhood plans; and if he will make a statement.

Greg Clark: A neighbourhood development plan once adopted by the local planning authority will form part of the statutory development plan. If it contains policies that are likely to have significant environmental effects it could trigger the strategic environmental assessment directive.

Local Government: Pensions

Jim McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate his Department has made of the likely change in the number of members opting out of the Local Government Pension Scheme as a result of the increase in employee contributions.

Bob Neill: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Wallasey (Ms Eagle) on 14 February 2011, Official Report, columns 539-40W.

Mayors

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what powers local authorities in areas where a mayor is to be directly elected will have to replace serving shadow mayors appointed before the first direct election for mayor;
	(2)  on what date he expects to appoint shadow mayors in each city in England where directly-elected mayors are to be introduced.

Bob Neill: The Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my hon. Friend the Member for Hazel Grove (Andrew Stunell), indicated to the House at Report stage of the Localism Bill that we would listen carefully to the points made on the mayoral provisions in the Bill, particularly on such issues as shadow mayors. We are now reflecting on the comments we have heard and intend to come back to these matters when the Bill is considered in the other place.

Mayors

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  when he expects cities which vote in favour of introducing directly-elected mayors in May 2012 will hold the first such elections;
	(2)  what his policy is on provisions to allow local authorities with a shadow mayor to hold direct elections for an elected mayor before May 2013.

Bob Neill: Our expectation is that where there is a vote in favour of introducing a directly-elected mayor at a referendum, the first mayoral election will be held shortly thereafter.

Mayors

Caroline Flint: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance he plans to make available to local authorities with directly-elected mayors on working relationships with directly-elected police and justice commissioners.

Bob Neill: It will be for the directly-elected mayor and directly-elected police and crime commissioner for an area to develop and maintain an effective working relationship on which they will be accountable to their local electorates. It is already the case that local authorities and police authorities work together on issues like local policing, CCTV and licensing.

Planning

Daniel Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps he is taking to increase involvement in the planning process of communities which live in close proximity to proposed developments but which are in the development envelope of another local authority.

Bob Neill: Local authorities are already required to publicise planning applications to local communities in a range of ways. Details of these requirements are set out in article 13 of the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2010.
	Clause 102 of the Localism Bill introduces a new requirement for applicants for certain types of development to consult the local community in advance of submitting a planning application, and to have regard to any views raised.
	Both statutory provisions apply where a development is close to the boundary of another local authority.

Planning

Gavin Shuker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what discussions he has had with ministerial colleagues on the presumption in favour of development proposed in the Plan for Growth.

Bob Neill: Ministers are in discussion about the presumption in favour of sustainable development, with a view to publishing a draft shortly.

Sky Lanterns: Safety

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment his Department has made of the potential fire risk arising from the use of Chinese lanterns.

Bob Neill: Fire and rescue incident records show these products resulted in 125 incidents attended in 2010-11, none of which caused substantial damage. This compares to over 100,000 outdoor fire incidents attended by fire and rescue services each year.

JUSTICE

Aarhus Convention

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what resources his Department has allocated to implementation of the provisions of the Aarhus Convention.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is the lead Government Department on the implementation of the Aarhus convention. As with similar initiatives, no dedicated resources have been allocated by the Ministry of Justice to this area. Instead actions arising out of the implementation of the convention affecting this Department are handled by relevant officials as part of their normal business.

Aarhus Convention

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the likely effects of Lord Justice Jackson's proposals on civil litigation costs on the UK's compliance with the terms of the (a) Aarhus Convention and (b) Ruggie Mandate.

Jonathan Djanogly: 'Reforming Civil Litigation Funding and Costs in England and Wales—Implementation of Lord Justice Jackson's Recommendations: The Government Response' was published on 29 March 2011, setting out the way forward on the proposals following full consultation. An updated impact assessment was published alongside this response.

Corruption

Catherine McKinnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 16 March 2011, Official Report, column 453W, on corruption, what tasks he plans to complete in his role as the UK's international anti-corruption champion during the remainder of 2011.

Kenneth Clarke: My first priority as Champion, and focus this year, has been to ensure the effective implementation of the Bribery Act, which I have announced will be commenced on 1 July this year. In the short term, raising awareness of the Act overseas to ensure that the trading reputation of UK businesses is enhanced is a clear priority.
	I am now also considering other areas of international anti-corruption and with Ministers and officials I have been exploring the focus of UK anti-corruption activity and, in particular, the focus of my efforts as Champion.
	I am undertaking bilateral meetings with foreign Government Ministers and judges to encourage and offer support to them to raise anti-corruption standards in their own countries. I have already discussed this with a number of Ministers and justice office holders in Romania, Slovenia and Turkey and will continue to have these discussions with counterparts in the European Union, candidate and neighbourhood countries. I visited Croatia in April to discuss progress towards accession to the European Union, of which implementation of anti-corruption measures is key. My Department will continue to monitor and encourage improvements in anti-corruption standards in EU candidate and neighbourhood countries. As part of the Memorandum of Understanding I have signed between the UK and the Russian Federation, we will work together to tackle corruption, with the aim of strengthening stable trade between our two countries.
	I will have strategic oversight of the peer evaluations which the UK will undergo in June and July by the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention and UN Convention Against Corruption to assess compliance with these international standards.

County Courts: Judgments

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many county court judgements have been awarded to individuals against financial institutions in each of the last three years; and how many remain to be enforced after judgment.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Ministry of Justice does not hold figures centrally on the number of county court judgments awarded to individuals against financial institutions.
	The administrative computer systems in the county courts contain the records of all county court judgments made and the names of judgment creditors and judgment debtors involved in these. However the judgment creditor names have not been classified according to whether they are individuals or otherwise and the judgment debtor names have not been classified according to whether they are financial institutions or otherwise. These classifications could be obtained through the manual examination of the electronic records only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental CCTV

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many CCTV cameras are installed in and around his Department's premises; and how much such cameras (a) cost to install and (b) cost to operate in the latest period for which figures are available.

Crispin Blunt: In 2010-11, the latest period for which figures are available, there were 192 CCTV cameras installed in the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) central London administrative estate and the United Kingdom Supreme Court. It is not possible to provide information on their installation costs as CCTV systems are usually installed as part of a wider refurbishment, and in most cases many years ago. The average annual cost of maintaining these cameras is £112 each. It is not possible to disaggregate other costs related to their operation.
	Additionally, in public sector prisons in England and Wales the number of systems rather than individual cameras is recorded. The number of cameras in each system will vary depending on the category of prison. There are 1,300 CCTV systems. It is not possible to disaggregate their installation and operating costs.
	Obtaining information from other MOJ agencies, arm’s length bodies and contracted prisons would incur disproportionate cost.

Departmental Research

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what (a) longitudinal and (b) other (i) research and (ii) collection of data his Department has (A) initiated, (B) terminated and (C) amended in the last 12 months; and what such research and data collection exercises undertaken by the Department have not been amended in that period.

Kenneth Clarke: We regularly review our research and collection of data. Therefore the content of the work changes in consultation with stakeholders and with regards to costs, quality, need and burden. We do very few longitudinal projects in the sense of the project tracking the same respondents over a period of time. Details of external social research projects commissioned, terminated or amended by the Department since May 2010 are set out in Table 1. It also shows details of data collections. A number of these data collections are a by-product of existing management information systems and therefore require minimal resource to collect.
	
		
			 Table 1: Longitudinal, research and data collections initiated, terminated and amended in last 12 months 
			 Project A. Longitudinal B(i). other research B(ii) other collection of data (A) initiated (B) terminated (C) amended 
			 The Social Impact Bond at Peterborough(qualitative evaluation) B(i) A 
			 The Social Impact Bond at Peterborough(Independent Assessor) B(i) A 
			 Evaluation of Mandatory Polygraph Pilots B(i) C 
			 Decision process for indeterminate sentence, IPP and life sentences at parole reviews: IPP and Lifers casefile database B(i) A 
			 Evaluation of Sex Offender Treatment Programme B(i) A 
			 SPCR Missing Data Project B(i) A 
			 Police and CPS Casefile Analysis B(i) A 
			 Parole Board case file analysis B(i) A 
			 HM Courts Service Court User Survey B(i) B 
			 Witness and Victim Experience Survey B(i) B 
		
	
	
		
			 Police cautions (including reprimands and final warnings) B(ii) B 
			 Notes: 1. Terminated means a contract or data collection that was ended early with original planned milestones not completed. 2. Amended means an change to the contract (excluding those associated only with timing of milestones). 
		
	
	Table 2 shows research and data collections that are on-going and have not been amended in the last 12 months.
	
		
			 Table 2: On-going research and data collections not amended in last 12 months 
			 Project A longitudinal B  (i) other Research B  (ii) other data collection 
			 Offender Management Community Cohort Study. A 
			 Implementation Evaluation of Victim Support's Homicide Service B(i) 
			 Strengths and Skills of the Judiciary in the Magistrates' Courts of England and Wales B(i) 
			 Understanding MOJ customers B(i) 
			 Integrated Alternatives to Custody: A process evaluation and outcome evaluation feasibility study in IAC pilot areas B(i) 
			 Together Woman outcome evaluation B(i) 
			 CREST—Crown Court data B(ii) 
			 LIBRA—Magistrates court data B(ii) 
			 Time Intervals Survey of Criminal Proceedings in Magistrates' Courts B(ii) 
			 Manual returns to HMCS Reporting Database B(ii) 
			 CaseMan—Civil courts B(ii) 
			 PCOL—Possession Claims Online B(ii) 
			 FamilyMan—Family courts B(ii) 
			 Tribunals service activity statistics B(ii) 
			 High Court, Appellate Courts and other judicial data for official statistics B(ii) 
			 Police National Computer data B(ii) 
			 Penalty Notices for Disorder (PNDs) B(ii) 
			 Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) B(ii) 
			 Failure to Appear warrants (FTAs) B(ii) 
			 Coroners Statistics B(ii) 
			 Freedom of Information Statistics B(ii)

Offenders

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many offenders in the prison estate (a) ran away from home as a child, (b) were taken into care as a child, (c) were excluded from school as a child, (d) were unemployed before prison, (e) suffer from two or more mental disorders, (f) had a drug abuse problem prior to their imprisonment and (e) had an alcohol problem prior to their imprisonment.

Crispin Blunt: A representative sample of 1,435 reception prisoners from Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (SPCR), a study of adult prisoners sentenced to between one month and four years in prison in 2005 and 2006, self-reported the following:
	24% were taken into care as a child;
	42% were expelled or permanently excluded from school (63% were temporarily excluded);
	68% were not in paid employment (excluding casual or cash-in-hand work) in the four weeks before custody;
	17% received treatment/counselling for a mental health or emotional problem in the 12 months before custody and 20% reported they needed help for a mental health or emotional problem at the time of the interview;
	81% had used drugs at some point prior to custody;
	22% had drunk alcohol every day in the four weeks prior to custody.
	Prisoners were not asked whether they had run away from home as a child.

Offenders: Bank Services

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what information his Department holds on the number of offenders leaving prison who have a bank account.

Crispin Blunt: Information on the number of offenders leaving prison who have a bank account is not routinely collected. A survey by the Legal Service Research Centre in 2007 reported that 40% of people in prison surveyed had no current account or other financial products. An evaluation by Liverpool John Moores University in 2008 found that 69% of prisoners at one prison had no bank account.
	We recognise that access to bank accounts and other basic financial services can positively contribute to the rehabilitation of prisoners and their resettlement into society, and we are working closely across Departments and with banks to increase provision.

Prisoners on Remand

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners were held on remand for (a) 12 to 24 months, (b) 24 to 60 months and (c) over 60 months in each year since 2007 for which figures are available.

Crispin Blunt: Data are not held centrally on the length of time each individual prisoner spends on remand. However, using the data held, it is possible to estimate the average time on remand which is between eight and nine weeks.

Prisons: Crimes of Violence

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many (a) National Offender Management Service and (b) Prison Service staff in each prison establishment were treated for injuries sustained as a result of assaults by offenders in each year since 2007 for which figures are available.

Crispin Blunt: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) do not record data in the requested form. However, NOMS do record and publish statistics on assaults on staff which include assaults on prison officers. The statistics show the number of incidents in which staff have been involved, but do not include the number of individual injuries received by staff or the treatment they received. They do include figures for assaults by type of injury received. Figures for staff and prisoner injuries have been collated in the published statistics.
	Figures for assaults on staff broken down by establishment can be found in the published Ministry of Justice Safety in Custody statistics at the following link.
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/statistics-and-data/prisons-and-probation/safety-in-custody.htm
	Statistics for 2010 are not yet available. The Safety in Custody statistics for 2010 are due to be published on the Ministry of Justice website at the end of July.

Prisons: Manpower

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many full-time diversity officers were employed at each prison establishment in the latest period for which figures are available.

Crispin Blunt: Prison establishments employ staff with specialist responsibilities around equality and diversity issues with a variety of job titles, such as race equality officer and disability liaison officer, as well as diversity officer. In the period 1 January 2011 to 31 March 2011 such staff spent an average of 77 hours each week per establishment working on equality and diversity issues. 124 prisons reported that an average of 35 or more hours per week was spent on these issues. Information on the number of staff that work full-time on these issues is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost by contacting each establishment.

Prisons: Repairs and Maintenance

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which prisons will be put out to maintenance and operation tender in (i) 2012, (ii) 2013, (iii) 2014 and (iv) 2015.

Crispin Blunt: The Ministry of Justice is currently developing the Offender Services Competition Strategy in line with commitments in the Breaking the Cycle Green Paper and the Ministry of Justice Business Plan. The strategy will set out how competition will be used within Offender Services and outline a timetable for competition in this period.

Prisons: Sexuality

Karl Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prison diversity officers trained in the handling of issues on sexual orientation there were in the latest period for which figures are available.

Crispin Blunt: Information about specific training attended by prison officers is not available centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost by contacting each establishment. Every prison has a manager with lead responsibility for equalities issues, and the publication “A guide to working with lesbian, gay and bisexual offenders in custody”, produced by NACRO, has been distributed to all prison establishments.

Prisons: Training

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will assess the merits of setting minimum training standards for prisons working jointly with prisoners, their children and families; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: NOMS already has training standards in place for all its central training provision through the use of National Occupational Standards in Custodial Care. The importance of prison officers working with prisoners, their children and families is reflected in their initial training and other training they receive throughout their career as part of their continuing professional development.

Prisons: Training

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many hours of prison officers' initial training consists of training on working jointly with prisoners, their children and families; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: Initial training for newly recruited prison officers provides officers with an understanding of the importance of working effectively with prisoners and their families. There are two sessions, totalling three hours, which focus specifically on working jointly with prisoners, their children and families.

Rape: Research

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he expects to publish the research report on the frequency of false allegations of rape in response to the recommendations of the Stern Review; and who is undertaking the research for the report.

Crispin Blunt: An analysis of police and CPS casefiles, relating to cases proceeded against for serious sexual and violent offences, is being undertaken by TNS-BMRB following a competitive tender through the MOJ Research Framework. The project—which will explore further the evidence for false allegations of rape—is under way, and a report of the findings will be published in accordance with the Government Social Research Publication Guidelines when it is ready.
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/Assets/GSR%20Publication%20Guidance%20-%2029%20Jan%202010_tcm6-35775.pdf

Risley Prison: Suicide

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps he is taking to reduce the number of suicides at HMP Risley; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: Each death in custody is a tragedy. The National Offender Management Service is committed to reducing the number of self-inflicted deaths in prison custody.
	Regrettably, there have been three self-inflicted deaths at HMP Risley in the last 12 months.
	There do not appear to be any immediate common factors between the three deaths. Unfortunately, clusters of deaths can occur randomly due to the relatively small numbers involved.
	Each death is subject to an investigation and, since 2004, these have been undertaken by the prisons and probation ombudsman. Strenuous efforts are made to learn from each death and improve our understanding and procedures for caring for prisoners at risk of suicide or self-harm.

Trade Unions

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff of (a) his Department, (b) HM Courts and Tribunals Service, (c) HM Land Registry, (d) the National Offender Management Service, (e) the National Archives and (f) the Office of the Public Guardian are entitled to work (i) full-time as trade union representatives and (ii) part-time on trade union activities; how many such staff are paid more than £25,900 annually; and what the cost to the public purse of employing such staff on such duties was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jonathan Djanogly: 189 full-time equivalent staff were engaged in trade union activity representing the 78,000 staff in the Ministry of Justice within the 2008-09 financial year. The estimated total salary cost of such activity was £6.3 million. This work includes national work in MOJ and national and some local work in NOMS.
	Facilities agreements between the Ministry of Justice and the trade union sides follow the provisions of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 and the ACAS Code of Practice ‘Time off for Trade Union Duties and Activities’, available at:
	http://www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2391
	The number of trade union representatives working full and part time in the individual business units of the Department and the number of those with a salary of more than £25,900 could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.

Tribunals: Special Educational Needs

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what proportion of tribunal cases on provision of special educational needs support found in favour of a family bringing a case against a local authority (a) in total and (b) in each local authority area in each of the last five years.

Jonathan Djanogly: The following table shows the proportion of judgments made by the first-tier tribunal—special educational needs and disability (formerly special educational needs and disability tribunal) that were at least partially found in favour and fully found in favour of the appellant when compared to the overall number of special educational needs (SEN) decisions made by the tribunal:
	
		
			 Special educational needs appeal findings 
			 Percentage 
			 Academic year Proportion of SEN appeals found partially in favour of the appellant Proportion of SEN appeals found in favour of the appellant 
			 2009-10 10.2 77.4 
			 2008-09 10.7 69.7 
			 2007-08 9.5 66.3 
			 2006-07 12.2 67.8 
			 2005-06 12.2 65.1 
		
	
	It should be noted that any amendment to the statement in the appellant's favour is counted as a partial success whereas only a full dismissal of an appeal is counted a success for the local authority.
	The tribunal is engaged in a number of measures which aim to ensure that only those cases that really need to come before it do so. For example, it is encouraging local authorities to review their files earlier and to settle cases earlier where it is appropriate to do so.
	The information on judgments broken down by local authority is not routinely collected and would require running reports for each academic year for each of the 150 local authorities. This could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, information is available on the overall number of appeals registered against each local authority and can be found in the first-tier tribunal—special educational needs and disability annual reports at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/corporate-reports/tribunals/send.htm

Tribunals: Special Educational Needs

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what (a) time series, (b) comparative geographical and (c) other data his Department holds on the number of cases relating to provision of special educational needs support in which the local authority decision was contested by the family and the case (i) did and (ii) did not go to a tribunal in each of the last three years.

Jonathan Djanogly: Information on the number of appeals made to the first-tier tribunal special educational needs and disability are published in its annual reports and are available at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/corporate-reports/tribunals/send.htm
	The statistics are recorded on an academic year basis (September to August). They include a breakdown of registered appeals by local authority and the number of registered appeals that are decided at a hearing and the numbers of appeals that do not reach a hearing through judicial strike out, withdrawal by parent or concession by local authority.
	The number of first-tier tribunal—special educational needs and disability appeal receipts and disposals by calendar year have previously been published annually by the Tribunals Service (now Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service) in its annual report available at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/corporate-reports/tribunals/index.htm
	Neither the tribunal nor the Department for Education hold information on the number of contested cases that do not result in a tribunal application.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Crown Relocations

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many contracts her Department holds with Crown Relocations; and what the (a) purpose and (b) monetary value of each contract is.

Damian Green: The Home Department, inclusive of its executive agencies, holds one contract with Crown Relocations to (a) provide relocation and tenancy management services to the UK Border Agency officers posted to Juxtaposed immigration controls at Brussels and Paris. The (b) monetary value of the two-year contract is £230,000.

Death Certificates

Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the (a) average, (b) shortest and (c) longest time taken between the issuing of a medical certificate of cause of death and the issuing of the certificate for burial or cremation was in the latest year for which figures are available.

Damian Green: No analyses are made of the length of time between the issuing of a medical certificate of cause of death and the issuing of the certificate for burial or cremation. There is no precise point at which a death is certified and so the medical certificate may be issued on the same day as the death, or on the following day or occasionally even a few days later. No central record is kept of the dates of issue of medical certificates of cause of death.
	Likewise, certificates for burial or cremation are not all issued at the same point in the process. The majority are issued at the time of the registration of the death but some are issued prior to registration. No central record is kept of the dates of issue of certificates for burial or cremation.

Departmental Travel

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department has spent on ministerial travel by (a) ministerial car, (b) train, (c) bus, (d) commercial aircraft and (e) private aircraft since May 2010.

Damian Green: Since May 2010, for greater transparency, all information relating to ministerial overseas travel, including cost is published on the Home Office website on a quarterly basis at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/non-personal-data/hospitality-business-expenses/
	Expenditure relating to ministerial car, train and bus travel can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with Cabinet Office Ministerial Code, specifically section 10 which stipulates that all travel arrangements should be efficient and cost-effective.

Departmental Travel

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much each Executive agency of her Department has spent on travel by (a) private hire vehicles, (b) trains, (c) buses, (d) commercial aircraft and (e) private aircraft since May 2010.

Damian Green: Expenditure for the three Home Office agencies, since May 2010 is as follows:
	
		
			 Criminal Records Bureau 
			  £000 
			 (a) Vehicle hire expenditure since May 2010 19 
			 (b) Rail travel expenditure since May 2010 138 
			 (c) Bus travel expenditure since May 2010 0 
			 (d) Commercial air travel expenditure since May 2010 0 
			 (e) Private aircraft travel since May 2010 0 
			 Note: Expenditure rounded to the nearest £000. 
		
	
	
		
			 Identity and Passport Service 
			  £000 
			 (a) Vehicle hire expenditure May 2010 to March 2011 39 
			 (b) Rail travel expenditure May 2010 to March 2011 923 
			 (c) Bus travel expenditure May 2010 to March 2011 5 
			 (d) Commercial air travel expenditure May 2010 to March 2011 348 
			 (e) Private aircraft travel May 2010 to March 2011 0 
			 Note: Expenditure rounded to the nearest £000. 
		
	
	
		
			 UK Border Agency 
			  £000 
			 (a) Vehicle hire expenditure May 2010 to April 2011 1,057 
			 (b) Rail travel expenditure May 2010 to April 2011 1,927 
			 (c) Bus travel expenditure May 2010 to April 2011 (1)— 
		
	
	
		
			 (d) Commercial air travel expenditure May 2010 to April 2011 1,198 
			 (e) Private aircraft travel May 2010 to April 2011 0 
			 (1) This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Note: Expenditure rounded to the nearest £000. 
		
	
	The Department expects all official travel within Executive agencies to be carried out by the most efficient and economic means available, taking into account the cost of travel and subsistence, savings in official time, management benefit and the needs of staff with disabilities. This is in accordance with the Civil Service Management Code and the Ministerial Code.

Departmental Travel

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent on travel in respect of (a) each of her Department's executive agencies and (b) the chief executive of each such agency since May 2010.

Damian Green: The Home Office had three executive agencies over the period in question (1 May 2010 to 31 March 2011)—Identity and Passport Service, UK Border Agency and Criminal Records Bureau. Travel expenditure of the agency and of the chief executive for each agency is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Agency (a) Total expenditure on travel (rounded to the nearest £000) (b) Travel expenses of chief executive (£) 
			 UK Border Agency 14,670,000 7,187 
			 Identity and Passport Service 1,800,000 3,828 
			 Criminal Records Bureau 185,000 4,148 
		
	
	Further detail on Home Office Board members expenditure is available on the Home Office website using the following link:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/about-us/non-personal-data/hospitality-business-expenses/
	The Department expects all official travel within executive agencies to be carried out by the most efficient and economic means available, taking into account the cost of travel and subsistence, savings in official time, management benefit, and the needs of staff with disabilities. This is in accordance with the Civil Service Management Code and the Ministerial Code.

Deportation: Children

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children of failed asylum seekers have been removed from the UK in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Damian Green: holding answer 19 May 2011
	There were 316 children of failed asylum seekers removed from the UK between the 1 May 2010 and 30 April 2011.

Deportation: Children

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many family groups of failed asylum seekers which include children have been removed from the UK in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Damian Green: holding answer 19 May 2011
	There were 230 family groups of failed asylum seekers which include children removed from the UK between 1 May 2010 and 30 April 2011.
	All figures quoted are internal management information only and are subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols.
	The Government have developed a fresh approach to managing the return of families with children who do not have a legal right to be in the UK. The aim is to maximise the opportunity for families to take responsibility for how they leave the country and to avoid the need for their departure to be enforced by the UK Border Agency. Most elements of this new process were rolled out nationally on 1 March 2011. All families with children that remain unlawfully in the UK could potentially go through this new returns process. The number of families who go through the different stages of the new process will depend on the decisions they take about their departure so is difficult to predict accurately, but we hope that most will take the chance to leave at the earlier assisted or required return stages. This new approach will not apply to children who are unaccompanied.

Domestic Violence

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what domestic violence refuges her Department funded in each region in 2010-11; and what the (a) level and (b) source of funding was in each case.

Lynne Featherstone: The Home Office funded Sojourner Project provides accommodation and support via refuges to victims of domestic violence who entered the UK on a spouse or partner visa and subsequently have no recourse to public funds after being forced to flee their home. The Home Office provided almost £2 million of funding to support the Sojourner Project during 2010-11. £2.4 million has been allocated to enhance and continue this project in 2011-12.
	Supporting People, funded by the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG), provides housing related support services for vulnerable people, including women fleeing domestic violence. DCLG secured investment of £6.5 billion for Supporting People during the spending review; this equates to an average annual reduction of less than 1% in cash terms. Funding for Supporting People services forms part of local authorities' overall formula grant, and it is for local authorities to make decisions regarding funding for Supporting People services based on their local needs and priorities, which may include the funding of refuges.

Domestic Violence

Julie Elliott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research her Department has undertaken on the incidence of offences of domestic violence in police authority areas where domestic violence units (a) are and (b) are not in place.

Lynne Featherstone: Research of this nature has not been undertaken centrally by the Home Office. The British Crime Survey (BCS) contains a self-completion module which is used to measure the prevalence of domestic abuse victimisation in the last year and since the age of 16. However, information on the location of domestic violence units is not centrally available and therefore it is not possible to compare prevalence rates in those police forces that do have domestic violence units with those that do not.

Domestic Violence

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any independent domestic violence adviser posts funded by her Department are based in police forces.

Lynne Featherstone: According to the information available, 32 out of the 144 independent domestic violence advisers (IDVAs) funded by the Home Office in 2011-12 are either based in police stations or spend a significant part of their time in police stations. In some cases applicants were still to decide on the location of the IDVA.

Drugs: Crime Prevention

Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what her policy is on the assignment of police officers to duties outside European countries as part of international efforts to counter drug smuggling.

Nick Herbert: The fight against organised crime and drugs is one of the UK's top priorities and given the international nature of organised crime, work with international partners is becoming increasingly important in reducing harm to the UK. Assistance is delivered through police forces and a number of other policing and Government agencies.
	The assignment of police officers is a matter for chief constables or heads of policing agencies. Serving officers from forces in England and Wales who travel overseas to provide assistance to international organisations or other bodies engaged in policing activities must be authorised to do so by their police authority and the Secretary of State for the Home Department (under the provisions of Section 26 of the 1996 Police Act).

Electoral Register

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many registered electors are resident in each police authority area.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 16 May 2011
	The information requested is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Police area Population Registered electors 
			 Metropolitan 7,512,400 5,597,455 
			 Greater Manchester 2,553,837 1,967,582 
			 West Midlands 2,600,064 1,954,664 
			 Thames Valley 2,160,014 1,661,435 
			 West Yorkshire 2,161,241 1,584,084 
			 Hampshire 1,829,461 1,434,125 
			 Devon and Cornwall 1,648,492 1,296,665 
			 Essex 1,669,945 1,295,170 
			 Kent 1,634,596 1,249,042 
			 Avon and Somerset 1,560,551 1,219,258 
			 Sussex 1,528,435 1,209,906 
			 Lancashire 1,449,686 1,114,800 
			 Northumbria 1,397,447 1,075,612 
			 Merseyside 1,353,596 1,022,048 
			 South Yorkshire 1,292,869 973,165 
			 South Wales 1,226,979 948,716 
			 West Mercia 1,181,937 937,033 
			 Staffordshire 1,062,461 845,802 
			 Surrey 1,085,249 842,840 
			 Hertfordshire 1,058,586 826,009 
			 Nottinghamshire 1,055,465 792,308 
			 Cheshire 999,884 789,903 
			 Derbyshire 990,385 777,680 
			 Leicestershire 963,067 763,957 
			 Humberside 904,947 694,363 
			 Norfolk 832,443 656,497 
			 North Yorkshire 783,337 613,730 
			 Dorset 701,084 582,668 
			 Cambridgeshire 752,870 581,283 
			 Suffolk 702,037 548,054 
			 Lincolnshire 686,195 544,210 
			 North Wales 675,563 519,609 
			 Northamptonshire 669,102 516,210 
			 Wiltshire 635,326 503,244 
			 Durham 600,055 473,589 
			 Gloucestershire 578,631 466,357 
			 Bedfordshire 590,689 443,005 
			 Gwent 559,719 424,856 
			 Cleveland 558,206 418,378 
			 Warwickshire 522,232 414,030 
			 Cumbria 496,151 393,404 
			 Dyfed-Powys 503,624 387,059 
			 Total 53,728,858 41,359,805

Firearms: Young Offenders

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people under the age of 18 years were investigated by the police for illegal use of airguns in each of the last five years in each police authority area in England and Wales.

Nick Herbert: The information requested is not collected centrally. The age of persons investigated for committing offences involving the use of firearms, including air weapons, cannot be identified from the police recorded crime statistics collected by the Home Office.

Fraud

Vernon Coaker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what responsibilities police and crime commissioners will have in respect of economic crime.

Nick Herbert: The Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) will be required to hold chief constables to account for the full range of their responsibilities, which will include economic crime.

Independent Police Complaints Commission: Finance

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2011, Official Report, column 586W, on the Independent Police Complaints Commission, what the (a) resource and (b) capital grants to the Independent Police Complaints Commission were in inflation-adjusted terms from 2005-06 to 2011-12.

Nick Herbert: Further to the information provided on 28 April 2011, Official Report, column 586W, the resource and capital grants paid to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, adjusted in line with inflation, can be calculated by reference to the gross domestic product deflators. These may be found on Her Majesty's Treasury website at the following link:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/data_gdp_fig.htm

National Public Order Intelligence Unit

Michael Meacher: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether she has any plans to make a statement to the House following the publication of the report of the review by Her Majesty’s inspectorate of constabulary into the operational accountability of undercover work conducted by the National Public Order Intelligence Unit and how intelligence activity is authorised in law;
	(2)  by what means Her Majesty’s inspectorate of constabulary will assess proportionality as part of its review of the operational accountability of undercover work conducted by the National Public Order Intelligence Unit and how intelligence activity is authorised in law.

Nick Herbert: Her Majesty’s inspectorate of constabulary (HMIC) is specifically considering the rote of authorising officers in relation to intelligence activity as part of its inquiry, supported by advice from senior Queen’s counsel as to the applicable law. The concept of proportionality applicable to the activities of the National Public Order Intelligence Unit is being assessed against requirements of the European convention on human rights and the Human Rights Act 1998.
	The Government have given a commitment to ensure that the findings of the review will be published by HMIC and will await the outcome of the review before taking a decision on whether a statement to the House is appropriate.

Northumbria Police

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what the rate of employee attrition for (a) civilian staff and (b) warranted officers in Northumbria police force was in each of the last five years for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many (a) civilian staff and (b) warranted officers Northumbria police employed in each year from 2002-03.

Nick Herbert: The available figures for Northumbria police force show the rate of employee attrition for civilian staff and warranted officers from 2005-06 to 2009-10. For the purposes of this answer, we have taken employee attrition to mean the total number of leavers during the financial year as a percentage of the total number of staff in post at the end of the financial year. The second table shows the number of civilian and warranted officers employed in Northumbria police force from 2002-03 to 2009-10.
	
		
			 Rate of employee attrition (FTE)  (1)   for civilian staff and warranted officers in Northumbria police force from 2005-06 to 2009-10 
			  Leavers  (4) Strength  (5) Employee attrition  (6) 
			  Civilian staff  (2) Warranted officers  (3) Civilian staff  (2) Warranted officers  (3) Civilian staff  (2)   (percentage) Warranted officers  (3 )  (percentage) 
			 2005-06 90 200 1,665 4,066 5 5 
			 2006-07 120 196 1,711 3,981 7 5 
			 2007-08 157 214 1,863 3,983 8 5 
			 2008-09 132 196 2,068 4,111 6 5 
			 2009-10 122 156 2,010 4,187 6 4 
			 (1) This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. (2) Civilian staff are police staff. (3) Warranted officers are police officers. (4) Leavers during the financial year. (5) Strength at the end of financial year. (6) Employee attrition—leavers during the financial year as a percentage of staff in post at the end of the financial year. 
		
	
	
		
			 Number of civilian staff and warranted officers employed (FTE)  (1)   in Northumbria police force from 2002-03 to 2009-10  (4) 
			  Civilian staff  (2) Warranted officers  (3) 
			 2002-03 1,457 4,018 
			 2003-04 1,495 4,061 
			 2004-05 1,491 4,088 
			 2005-06 1,665 4,066 
			 2006-07 1,711 3,981 
			 2007-08 1,863 3,983 
			 2008-09 2,068 4,111 
			 2009-10 2,010 4,187 
			 (1 )This table contains full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number. (2) Civilian staff are police staff. (3) Warranted officers are police officers. (4) Strength at the end of the reporting period, as at 31 March.

Nottinghamshire Police

Gloria De Piero: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will estimate the proportion of time spent on frontline policing duties by officers in the Nottinghamshire police force in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Herbert: Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary's (HMIC) report, “Demanding Times”, published on 30 March, provides the definition of frontline, middle office and back office police functions. A copy of the report is available at:
	http://www.hmic.gov.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/Thematics/THM_20110330.pdf
	Full details of policing roles, their categorisation by frontline, middle office and back office, and an estimate of the percentage of resource allocated to the front line under this definition across England and Wales in 2010 appear on pages 19-21 of the report. Because the proportion of time spent on the front line by officers in different roles will have varied in earlier years and across forces, we are not able to give estimates at force level or for earlier years.

Police

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of time police officers in each force spent on frontline policing duties in each year since 2007.

Nick Herbert: Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary's (HMIC) report ‘Demanding Times’, published on 30 March 2011, provides the definition of frontline, middle office and back office police functions. A copy of the report is available at:
	http://www.hmic.gov.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/Thematics/THM_20110330.pdf
	Full details of policing roles, their categorisation by frontline, middle office and back office, and an estimate of the percentage of resource allocated to the front line under this definition across England and Wales in 2010 appear on pages 19-21 of the report. Because the proportion of time spent on the front line by officers in different roles will have varied in earlier years and across forces, we are not able to give estimates at force level or for earlier years.

Police: Ammunition

Steven Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the use of hollow-point ammunition by police forces; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Herbert: It is for chief officers to decide what ammunition and weapons are appropriate to use in order to meet operational requirements, subject to the general law that the use of force by the police must be reasonable in the circumstances. A review of 9mm ammunition by the Home Office Scientific Development Branch (now the Centre for Applied Science and Technology) found that hollow point ammunition performed better than the current standard 9mm round. That review was passed on to the Association of Chief Police Officers.

Police: Complaints

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 28 April 2011, Official Report, column 586W, on the Independent Police Complaints Commission, how many complaints the Independent Police Complaints Commission has investigated in each financial year since 2005-06.

Nick Herbert: The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigates only the most serious matters and complaints relating to the conduct of an officer or member of police staff. The majority of complaints are dealt with at the local level by the relevant police force. The following table shows the number of independent and managed investigations conducted by the IPCC in each year since 2005-06. Figures for 2010-11 are yet to be published.
	
		
			  2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 
			 Independent investigations commenced 52 64 100 106 106 
			 Managed investigations commenced 188 176 152 117 151

Police: Complaints

Julian Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many working hours were spent on the Independent Police Complaints Commission report into allegations against the Chief Constable and Deputy Chief Constable of North Yorkshire Police following a recruitment campaign for police constables; and what the cost of the investigation was.

Nick Herbert: The Home Office does not hold this information.
	These are matters for the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which will respond to you direct.

Police: Jamaica

Stephen Pound: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers are assigned to duties in Jamaica; and how many were so assigned in (a) 2009 and (b) 2010.

Nick Herbert: Since 2009 the Metropolitan Police Service has seconded an officer to the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) in Jamaica, in order to assist the Jamaicans in relation to capacity building projects and training; and to undertake police inquiries that emanate from UK based operations. These involve investigation into serious crimes: murder, firearms, drug trafficking and money laundering.
	Since August 2010, there has been one Metropolitan Police Service officer conducting financial inquiries in tandem with SOCA officers and assisting Jamaica's capacity capabilities. No other forces have officers assigned to Jamaica.

Police: Manpower

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers per head of population there are in (a) England and (b) Wales.

Nick Herbert: The available figures show the number of police officers per 100,000 population in England and in Wales as at 31 March 2010.
	
		
			 Police officer strength in England and Wales as at 31 March 2010 by police force area and officers per 100,000 population—Full-time equivalents  (1) 
			 Police force All police officers Total officers per 100,000 population  (2) 
			 England 136,365 265 
			 Wales 7,369 246 
			 Total of all 43 forces 143,734 264 
			 (1) This and other tables contain full-time equivalent figures that have been rounded to the nearest whole number.  (2) Officers per 100,000 population for City of London and Metropolitan police are combined.

Police: Mass Media

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 7 March 2011, Official Report, column 877W, on police: mass media, if she will discuss with the Metropolitan police service the use of private investigators by media organisations to follow serving police officers in the course of their duties; and if she will make a statement.

Nick Herbert: holding answer 19 May 2011
	We have no plans to do so.

Police: Termination of Employment

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanism exists for a police officer leaving a police force to ensure that their employer completes the leaving date on their leaving certificate.

Nick Herbert: Regulation 17 of the Police Regulations 2003 requires police forces to issue leavers with a certificate showing final rank and setting out the period of service in that force and in any other force.

Police: Trade Unions

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff of each police force are entitled to work(a)full-time as trade union representatives and(b)part-time on trade union activities; how many such staff are paid more than £25,900 per annum; and what the cost to the public purse of employing such staff was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Nick Herbert: It is for individual chief officers to determine local policy for police staff trade union activities. The Home Office does not collect information on police staff trade union activity or costs.

Security Services: Data Protection

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether data losses have been reported to her Department by the security services as a result of computer hacking by media organisations in the last five years.

James Brokenshire: There have been no data losses reported to the Home Office by the security services as a result of computer hacking by media organisations in the last five years.

Serious Organised Crime Agency

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she expects to receive the Serious Organised Crime Agency's annual report for 2009-10.

Nick Herbert: The Serious Organised Crime Agency's (SOCA) Annual Report and Accounts for 2009-10 was laid before Parliament in July 2010. A copy of the report is also available on the SOCA website at:
	www.soca.gov.uk

HEALTH

Ambulance Services: Expenditure

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much per capita his Department spent on ambulance services in each of the last five years.

Simon Burns: The information is not held centrally in the format requested. The information shown in the following tables is the total spend on ambulance services, per trust, in each of the last five years.
	
		
			 2005-06 NHS ambulance trusts total expenditure 
			 Trust Total expenditure (£000) 
			 Avon Ambulance Service NHS Trust 26,289 
			 Essex Ambulance Service NHS Trust 59,632 
			 Gloucestershire Ambulance Services NHS Trust 18,786 
			 Mersey Regional Ambulance Service NHS Trust 55,567 
			 Staffordshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust 28,878 
			 South Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust 34,508 
			 Lincolnshire Ambulance NHS Trust 36,305 
		
	
	
		
			 Cumbria Ambulance Service NHS Trust 17,773 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Ambulance and Paramedic NHS Trust 41,386 
			 West Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust 66,692 
			 Royal Berkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust 24,504 
			 Dorset Ambulance NHS Trust 27,764 
			 Wiltshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust 15,528 
			 Two Shires Ambulance NHS Trust 29,684 
			 Westcountry Ambulance Services NHS Trust 69,862 
			 West Midlands Ambulance NHS Trust 67,666 
			 Hampshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust 35,134 
			 Hereford and Worcester Ambulance NHS Trust 18,429 
			 Coventry and Warwickshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust 26,100 
			 Greater Manchester Ambulance NHS Trust 64,277 
			 Lancashire Ambulance Service NHS Trust 41,195 
			 East Anglian Ambulance NHS Trust 76,881 
			 Oxfordshire Ambulance NHS Trust 16,587 
			 Kent Ambulance NHS Trust 37,390 
			 Surrey Ambulance Service NHS Trust 34,414 
			 Sussex Ambulance Service NHS Trust 52,765 
			 London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 210,472 
			 Tees East and North Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust 55,458 
			 East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust 69,563 
			 North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust 54,782 
			 Source: 2005-06 NHS Trusts Financial Returns 
		
	
	
		
			 2006-10 NHS ambulance trusts total expenditure 
			  Total expenditure (£000) 
			 Trust 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 
			 Staffordshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust 28,090 232,451 143,999 161,532 
			 London Ambulance Service NHS Trust 211,491 66,193 211,297 244,665 
			 Great Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust 61,611 78,542 79,246 82,755 
			 North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust 69,419 208,305 256,236 275,473 
			 North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust 184,240 152,688 86,145 99,370 
			 Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust 147,360 132,242 228,167 265,847 
			 East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust 123,199 145,886 121,244 136,223 
			 West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust 116,970 191,112 145,410 150,991 
			 East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust 186,001 132,772 122,317 117,741 
			 South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust 123,333 105,714 160,340 187,094 
			 South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust 101,185 110,868 184,312 201,197 
			 South West Ambulance Service NHS Trust 102,705 232,451 143,999 161,532 
			 Note: The figures provided show the total expenditure, before finance costs, of each ambulance trust between 2005-06 and 2009-10. A separate table is provided for 2006-10 owing to changes in organisations over the time period. Source: NHS Trusts Financial Returns

Bladder Cancer

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has any plans for an awareness campaign about the causes and symptoms of bladder cancer.

Paul Burstow: “Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer”, published on 12 January 2011, sets out an ambition to save an additional 5,000 lives every year by 2014-15 through earlier diagnosis of cancer and improved access to screening and radiotherapy. A copy has already been placed in the Library. To support earlier diagnosis of cancer the Government have committed over £450 million over the next four years, which includes provision for the funding of awareness activity.
	The focus of future campaign work will be determined by evaluation of current cancer awareness activity, including £9 million to support 59 local projects focusing on breast, bowel and lung cancer and £1.75 million to trial a national bowel cancer campaign in two regions. However, we know that all the 5,000 lives cannot be saved by tackling these common cancers alone, and we are considering how we might extend the previous campaigns to cover other cancers, including bladder cancer.

Bladder Cancer: Research

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans his Department has for extended research trials for bladder cancer.

Paul Burstow: The Department's National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network (CRN) is currently hosting 14 trials and other well-designed studies in bladder cancer that are in set-up or recruiting patients. Details can be found on the UK CRN portfolio database at:
	http://public.ukcrn.org.uk/search

Blood: CJD

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent representations he has received on prion filtration.

Anne Milton: The Department has received representations in the form of parliamentary questions and correspondence from industry about the use of prion filtration.

Blood: CJD

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the total cost of leuco-depletion in its first year of implementation;
	(2)  what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the NHS of leuco-depletion in each of the last five years.

Anne Milton: The total cost of leuco-depletion in the first year of implementation 1998-99 was £35 million.
	Information on the cost of leuco-depletion in the last five years is shown in the following table:
	
		
			 Cost of leuco-depletion by year 
			  £ million 
			 2006-07 9 
			 2007-08 9 
			 2008-09 9 
			 2009-10 8 
			 2010-11 8 
			 Total 43 
			 Note: Costs are estimates based on approximate costs of filter in an integral pack format for the last five years. Source: NHS Blood and Transplant

Blood: CJD

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the cost of implementing prion filtration for all transfusion blood using the P-Capt filter.

Anne Milton: Initial assessments of the estimated costs, which remain commercial in confidence, were made in October 2009. The recommendations of the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs are dependant upon the outcome of the prion filtered red blood cells in surgery patients (PRISM) study, the assessment of the results of which is not expected until 2012. No final estimates, based on the costs applicable at that time, can be made until then.

Breast Cancer: Screening

Steve Brine: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness and accuracy of mammogram screening for the detection of invasive lobular carcinoma;
	(2)  what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the effectiveness of ultrasound breast screening in addition to mammography screening for women with dense breasts;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the cost of introducing supplemental ultrasound breast screening as part of the NHS breast screening programme.

Paul Burstow: Mammography screening is regarded as the gold standard for breast screening. This has been determined through rigorous clinical trials and is supported and promoted by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer.
	However, like other screening tests, it is not perfect, and we know that some cancers, such as invasive lobular carcinoma, may be more difficult to detect with a mammogram than other types of breast cancer. This is why we encourage all women to be breast aware, check for any changes and report any changes to their general practitioner as quickly as possible.
	The Department has commissioned no research into the effectiveness of ultrasound breast screening in addition to mammography screening for women with dense breasts. Mammography is the only screening modality that has proven to reduce the mortality from breast cancer. Digital mammography has been shown to be more effective for younger women and women with dense breasts, and we are in the process of digitising the national health service breast screening programme (NHS BSP) in England. By the end of May 2011, 83% of local programmes will have at least one digital machine and 35% will be fully digital.
	Ultrasound screening may be used within the NHS BSP as part of the triple assessment process.

Cancer: Drugs

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the capacity of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to carry out appraisals for innovative inhibitor therapies for rare cancers where the target population is very small.

Paul Burstow: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has appraised, or is appraising, a number of inhibitor therapies for less common cancers. Full information on NICE's appraisal methodology is available in its “Guide to the Methods of Technology Appraisal”, available at:
	www.nice.org.uk/aboutnice/howwework/devnicetech/technologyappraisalprocessguides/guidetothemethodsoftechnologyappraisal.jsp

Cancer: Medical Treatments

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the capacity of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to carry out appraisals for innovative inhibitor therapies for rare cancers; what recent assessment he has made of the availability of such therapies; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has appraised, or is appraising, a number of inhibitor therapies for less common cancers. Full information on NICE'S appraisal methodology is available in its “Guide to the Methods of Technology Appraisal”, available at:
	www.nice.org.uk/aboutnice/howwework/devnicetech/technologyappraisalprocessguides/guidetothemethodsoftechnologyappraisal.jsp
	Primary care trusts are legally obliged to fund drugs and treatments recommended in NICE technology appraisal guidance, within three months of guidance being published, unless the requirement is waived in a specific case.
	We also launched the Cancer Drugs Fund in April 2011, which makes £200 million available in each of the next three years to help thousands more cancer patients access the drugs their clinicians believe will help them.

Cancer: Research

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding his Department allocated to research into (a) breast, (b) prostate, (c) ovarian, (d) pancreatic and (e) bladder cancer in each of the last 10 years.

Paul Burstow: Information on expenditure by the Department's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) on research into individual tumour sites is not held centrally. The number of NIHR Clinical Research Network studies in breast, prostate, ovarian, pancreatic, and bladder cancer that are currently in set-up or recruiting patients are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Number 
			 Breast 82 
			 Prostate 27 
			 Ovary 15 
			 Pancreas 10 
			 Bladder 14 
		
	
	Details can be found on the UK Clinical Research Network portfolio database at:
	http://public.ukcrn.org.uk/search
	The National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI), a United Kingdom wide partnership between Government, charities and industry, makes cancer research information available online via the International Cancer Research Portfolio database at:
	www.cancerportfolio.org
	The NCRI published an analysis of the national cancer research portfolio that includes details of expenditure by its partner organisations on research into individual tumour sites. The analysis is available online at:
	www.ncri.org.uk/includes/Publications/reports/analysisReport08.pdf
	A more detailed account of annual aggregated portfolio expenditure is given in an associated data package available at:
	www.ncri.org.uk/includes/Publications/reports/Data_package.xls

Drugs: Hospitals

Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many people were (a) admitted to and (b) treated in hospital as a result of taking natural remedies in the last five years;
	(2)  how many people were (a) admitted to and (b) treated in hospital as a result of taking licensed drugs in the last five years.

Paul Burstow: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care does not hold the information in the form requested. However, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) Yellow Card Scheme provides for voluntary reporting of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) by healthcare professionals and members of the public. The scheme is run by the MHRA and Commission for Human Medicines and collects ADR reports from across the whole United Kingdom for all medicines, including herbal products. There is also a legal obligation for pharmaceutical companies to report all serious ADRs for their products that they are aware of.
	As the scheme is voluntary, it is recognised that not all ADRs are reported. Data collected through the Yellow Card Scheme does not represent all patients who have suffered an adverse reaction to a medicine. Therefore it is not possible to provide the number of people who were admitted and treated in hospital as a result of a taking a natural remedy or licensed drug.
	The following table provides a breakdown of the total number of UK spontaneous suspected ADR reports received by the MHRA during the last five years where the reporter has stated that the ADR resulted in or prolonged hospitalisation.
	
		
			  Number of reports 
			 2006 4,635 
			 2007 4,485 
			 2008 4,620 
			 2009 4,475 
			 2010 4,541 
		
	
	This dataset includes all UK spontaneous ‘suspected' ADR reports for all medicines including herbal medicines.
	Natural remedies can include homeopathic remedies, flower remedies, vitamins, food substances and a number of other unlicensed medicines. Suspected ADRs are recorded according to the active drug substance and reports for natural remedies are not specifically identified as such. Without knowing the exact name of the natural remedy, the data can not be extracted.
	It is important to note that the reporting of a suspected adverse reaction does not necessarily mean it is related to the drug. The MHRA ask reporters to send them ‘suspicions' of ADRs: however, these are not proven. Many factors have to be taken into account in assessing causal relationships including temporal association, the possible contribution of concomitant medication and the underlying disease being treated.

Food Poisoning

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many incidents of food-borne illness were reported in (a) 2005, (b) 2006, (c) 2007, (d) 2008, (e) 2009 and (f) 2010.

Anne Milton: The number of laboratory-confirmed cases of Salmonella, Campylobacter, E. coli O157, Listeria monocytogenes and norovirus infection in the United Kingdom each year between 2005 and 2010 are shown in the following table. The data for 2010 are provisional.
	The Food Standards Agency has monitored changes in the number of cases of these key foodborne pathogens since 2000 (norovirus since 2005).
	
		
			 UK 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 
			 Salmonella 12,939 13,781 13,347 11,609 10,091 9,750 
			 Campylobacter 52,518 52,571 58,051 55,732 65,114 70,325 
			 E. coli O157 1,171 1,292 1,125 1,250 1,319 1,081 
			 Listeria monocytogenes 220 210 255 206 234 174 
			 Norovirus 4,653 7,320 8,495 9,438 10,378 15,528 
			 Total 71,501 75,174 81,273 78,235 87,136 96,858 
			 Source: Health Protection Agency, Health Protection Scotland, Public Health Agency Northern Ireland.

General Practitioners

Nicky Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what information his Department holds on the loss of patient records from GP surgeries; and whether his Department has commissioned any research into data storage methods in (a) GP surgeries and (b) NHS hospitals.

Simon Burns: The Department receives reports on the most serious incidents involving loss of patient data but it does not routinely collect information about less significant incidents or about the loss of individual patient records. Details of reported incidents are published on strategic health authority websites. Fifteen incidents involving loss of patient data were reported in 2008, four in 2009 and five in 2010.
	Responsibility for data storage rests with each national health service organisation, whether general practitioner practice or NHS trust and the Department has not commissioned any research into the data storage methods used. Comprehensive guidance is available on the secure retention of data and records and commissioners of patient care services are expected to hold providers to account against published information governance standards.

Health and Social Care Bill

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he plans to propose that the Health and Social Care Bill be recommitted to a Public Bill Committee.

Paul Burstow: The Government will make decisions on what changes to propose to the Health and Social Care Bill once the current listening exercise has concluded and the report of the NHS Future Forum has been received.

Health Professions: Patients

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what measures are in place to monitor the conduct of professional interpersonal relationships between staff and patients in NHS hospitals;
	(2)  what measures are in place to monitor the (a) nursing and (b) medical care experienced by patients in NHS hospitals.

Simon Burns: The National Patient Survey Programme, co-ordinated by the Care Quality Commission, is used to measure different aspects of patients' experiences of care. Surveys contain a variety of experience-based questions, which include questions on the relationships between doctors, nurses and patients, and care and treatment.
	National health service organisations may also measure patient experience according to local requirements.

Health Services: Merseyside

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with (a) St. Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust and (b) others about a possible merger between that Trust and North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: No formal discussions have taken place with Ministers on a potential merger of the Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (previously North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust) with another NHS trust.
	At a Westminster Hall debate on 4 May 2011 on ‘Private Finance Initiative Hospitals’, the potential for the St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust to merge with another NHS trust as an option for achieving foundation trust status was discussed. The Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was identified as a possible merger partner, given its geographical proximity to the St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. However, the St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is still considering all options that are available to achieve foundation trust status.
	On 16 May 2011, I briefly discussed this issue in a telephone conversation with my hon. Friend the Member for Warrington South (David Mowat).
	Work is continuing on the development of a Tripartite Formal Agreement between St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust, North West Strategic Health Authority and the Department to set out the agreed options that will enable the trust to obtain foundation trust status.

Health Services: Merseyside

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to ensure that (a) staff at Warrington hospital and (b) the public in Warrington are consulted on any possible merger between North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust and St. Helens and Knowsley NHS Trust.

Paul Burstow: Any proposed mergers involving national health service trusts or NHS foundation trusts will be required to include the appropriate consultations in line with the legislative requirements for any such changes.
	Under the current legislation, for a merger to occur between an NHS trust and an NHS foundation trust, the applicants must consult about the application in accordance with regulations. This includes a requirement to consult with the staff employed by the applicants and individuals who live in any area specified in the proposed constitution as the area for a public constituency, among other parties.
	In relation to a possible merger between Warrington and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (formerly North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust) and St. Helens and Knowsley NHS Trust, if this was the decision taken to support the achievement of foundation trust status and sustain the provision of high quality healthcare services, then these consultation requirements would need to be undertaken.

Health Services: Older People

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the merits of developing a tool to assess the biological rather than chronological age of a patient when determining the suitability of older patients for different forms of treatment; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: No assessment of the merits of developing a tool to assess the biological rather than chronological age of patients has been made by the Department. The Department’s work on achieving age equality in health and social care services is based on the legal framework and definitions set out in the Equality Act 2010. Treatment and care in the national health service is provided on the basis of clinical need. We intend to ban from 2012, where it is not clinically justified, all forms of age discrimination in the treatment of patients by the NHS.

Health Services: Older People

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps are being taken by his Department to support clinicians in fully assessing the suitability of older patients for different forms of treatment;
	(2)  what plans his Department has to commission research on clinical attitudes to the treatment of older people; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: Clinicians are responsible, within their area of competence, for treating patients based on the assessment they and the patient make of the patient's needs and priorities, and on clinical judgments about the likely effectiveness of the treatment options; and in accordance with guidance from their respective professional bodies and regulators. For example, the curriculum for general medical practitioners (GPs) set out by the Royal College of General Practitioners and endorsed by the General Medical Council requires a GP to develop the skills needed to assess the particular needs of older people and the suitability of treatment options.
	The Pharmaceutical Oncology Initiative, in partnership with the Department, is commissioning research to explore the extent to which age is a factor in treatment decisions for a range of cancers, as well as the extent to which clinical attitudes vary across different cancer types and in different countries. The results will be available in the second half of 2011.

Health Services: Older People

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he expects the same commencement date for the ban on age discrimination to be applied in the health and social care sectors as in other sectors.

Paul Burstow: Subject to ongoing public consultation, the ban on age discrimination in services, public functions and associations in health and social care is expected to come into effect in April 2012 as in other sectors.

Health Services: Older People

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what mechanisms have been put in place to minimise (a) indirect and (b) direct age discrimination in the health service;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the (a) nature, (b) extent and (c) variability of age discrimination in the health and social care system;
	(3)  what assessment he has made of the levels of (a) indirect and (b) direct age discrimination in the health and social care system;
	(4)  what assessment he has made of the recommendations outlined in Achieving Age Equality in Health and Social Care; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what steps his Department is taking to promote age equality in the health and social care sector; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  what recent assessment he has made of the extent of age discrimination in the health and social care sector; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: The Department commissioned a detailed review in 2009 to identify where age discrimination was most likely to occur within health and social care services. The review report, ‘Achieving Age Equality in Health and Social Care’, made recommendations on how the health and social care sector could end age discrimination and promote age equality in the light of the provisions in the Equality Act 2010. These have formed the basis of the Governments plans to implement the ban on age discrimination in health and social care from April 2012 as set out in ‘Equality Act 2010: banning age discrimination in services, public functions and associations, a consultation on proposed exceptions to the ban’ which was published by the Government Equalities Office on 3 March 2011. This consultation, which reflects the Government's intention of introducing no exceptions to the ban in health and social care services, ends on 25 May 2011. Having no exceptions to the ban means that from April 2012 any use of age in decision-making in health and social care services will need to be objectively justified.

Heart Diseases: Children

Gerry Sutcliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  on what dates the foreign language translations of the consultation documents for the review of Children's Congenital Cardiac Services will be made available to the public;
	(2)  what proportion of patients being treated at the children's congenital cardiac service at Leeds General Infirmary are from black and minority ethnic backgrounds;
	(3)  into which languages the consultation documents for the review of Children's Congenital Cardiac Services will be translated;
	(4)  on what date the consultation documents for the review of Children's Congenital Cardiac Services were made available in (a) English and (b) Welsh.

Paul Burstow: The ‘Safe and Sustainable’ review of children's heart services in England is being conducted by the NHS Specialised Commissioning Team. We have, however, been following its progress.
	Translations of the consultation documents have been available on request. Acting on requests received, the NHS is translating the consultation document and response forms into 10 different languages. They are available in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Farsi, Gujarati, Polish, Hindi, Punjabi, Somali and Urdu.
	The English consultation documents for the review of children's congenital cardiac services were available on the National Specialised Service's website from 1 March 2011. The Welsh version was made available on 25 March 2011. They can be found at:
	www.specialisedservices.nhs.uk/document/safe-sustainable-a-new-vision-children-s-congenital-heart-services-in-england-consultation-document
	Information on the proportion of patients being treated at the children's congenital cardiac service at Leeds General Infirmary who are from black and minority ethnic backgrounds is not held centrally.

Hospitals: Admissions

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many infants were admitted to hospital with a respiratory episode attributable to passive smoke in each primary care trust area in the latest period for which figures are available.

Anne Milton: Data are not available in the format requested.
	However, the Royal College of Physicians' report: ‘Passive smoking and children. A report by the Tobacco Advisory Group’ London: RCP; 2010, states that:
	“lower respiratory infections are common in infants, resulting, for example, in over 33,000 hospital admissions in infants aged under two years in England alone, where about 10 per cent are estimated to be due to passive smoke exposure”.

Hospitals: Repairs and Maintenance

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much per capita his Department spent on maintaining and improving hospital premises in each of the last five years.

Simon Burns: The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is in the table.
	National health service organisations are locally responsible for deciding the amount of expenditure they make with regard to maintaining and improving their hospital premises. Such decisions will be based on the state of their premises, their strategy for using their premises to support clinical services and their available resources.
	
		
			 Revenue expenditure spent on facility management costs by the NHS per capita; (some maintenance and improvement of facilities will be funded through capital expenditure not included in these figures) 
			  Facility management costs (£) Population number Cost of occupancy per capita (£/number) 
			 2005-06 4,582,555,345 50,466,162 91 
			 2006-07 4,858,285,598 50,763,893 96 
			 2007-08 5,327,189,237 51,106,181 104 
			 2008-09 6,190,045,759 51,464,646 120 
			 2009-10 6,642,961,687 51,809,741 128 
			 Source: The facility management cost is the revenue expenditure costs including labour, materials, equipment, consumables, management and contracting that are incurred to deliver the maintenance and improvement of premises. These data are as provided by the NHS through the Estates Return Information Collection system and have not been amended centrally. 
		
	
	The population numbers are the final mid-year population estimates (2001 census based) published by the Office for National Statistics. The 2005-08 figures were adjusted in May 2010 to reflect revisions to migration methodology.

Influenza: Vaccination

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that adequate influenza vaccinations are available in the winter of 2011.

Anne Milton: The chief medical officer (CMO) wrote to the national health service on 14 March asking strategic health authorities (SHAs) to assure themselves that robust local plans were in place for the seasonal flu immunisation programme for this winter. The Department will maintain an ongoing dialogue with SHAs on this subject until the start of the flu season and beyond.
	A copy of the CMO letter of 14 March has been placed in the Library.

Macular Degeneration: Drugs

Roger Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects avastin to be available through the NHS to patients suffering from wet age-related macular degeneration.

Paul Burstow: Avastin is not licensed for use in the treatment of wet age-related macular degeneration.
	Clinicians can prescribe medicines off-licence, subject to primary care trusts agreeing funding, if they feel it is right for an individual patient after discussing the potential risks and taking into account the patient’s medical history. In those circumstances, the clinician would have to retain clinical responsibility for the patient while prescribing the drug.

NHS Blood and Transplant

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to privatise the NHS Blood and Transplant service.

Anne Milton: I refer the right hon. Member to the written answer I gave the hon. Member for Easington (Grahame M. Morris) on 8 March 2011, Official Report, column 991W. There are no plans to privatise the blood service.

NHS: Equality

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effects of the roll-out of information prescriptions and targeted information on levels of inequality in the national health service.

Paul Burstow: Information prescriptions are intended to support everyone to access the information they need to take control of their health and manage their condition. The Department has not specifically assessed the effect of information prescriptions on inequality in the national health service.

NHS: Equality

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made in developing key performance indicators to measure levels of inequality in the national health service; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: One of the key principles of the “NHS Outcomes Framework 2011/12” is the need to promote equality and reduce inequalities in health outcomes.
	In selecting outcomes and determining how they should be measured, active consideration has been given to how the indicators can be analysed by equality and inequalities dimensions to support NHS action on reducing health inequalities and promoting equality. In addition to the legally protected characteristics (age, race, religion or belief, sex, disability and sexual orientation only), particular consideration has been given to socio-economic and area deprivation as these are drivers of poor health outcomes.
	Furthermore, the set of principles that the Secretary of State for Health, the right hon. Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley) and the proposed NHS Commissioning Board will use when negotiating levels of ambition against the indicators in the NHS Outcomes Framework includes consideration of inequalities in health outcomes taking into account equalities characteristics, disadvantage and area deprivation, where it is possible to do so.
	The framework will help the proposed NHS Commissioning Board to play its full part in promoting equality in line with the Equality Act 2010 and tackling inequalities.

NHS: Equality

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the merits of developing additional equality metrics to measure progress on reducing inequality in the NHS; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 places a general Equality Duty on listed public authorities, including NHS organisations and the Department of Health to eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation, advance equality and promote good relations. Information is key to providing transparency to evidence progress made in reducing inequality in line with the three aims of the Equality Duty.
	On 17 March 2011 a ‘policy review’ was launched by the Minister for Women and Equalities. This review proposed a less process orientated approach to equality. Any proposals around the development of additional policy metrics by the Department would need to be within the context of the of the results of that policy review.
	The “NHS Outcomes Framework”, published in December 2010, contains an initial assessment at Annex A of the indicators that can be analysed by equalities dimensions to support of NHS action on reducing inequality in the NHS. In addition to the legally protected characteristics (age, race, religion or belief, sex, disability and sexual orientation only), consideration has also been given to socio-economic and area deprivation as these are drivers of poor health outcomes. A copy is available in the Library.
	We are assessing the availability of indicators that can be disaggregated by equality characteristics, as well as other breakdowns with suppliers.

NHS: Equality

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the adequacy of coordination at (a) regional and (b) local level in implementing the provisions of the Equality Act 2010 in the NHS.

Paul Burstow: Each national health service organisation is responsible for ensuring that it understands and complies with the requirements of the Equality Act 2010. The Act requires all public bodies, including NHS organisations, to assess and consider equality issues when developing and delivering services.
	At the regional level, all strategic health authorities, often supported by the Department, have run events and programmes about the Equality Act 2010 to ensure that organisations in their regions understand what they need to do and work towards a common approach.

NHS: Equality

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's support to local health organisations in monitoring and analysing patterns of health service provision by age; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: The Department and its arm's length bodies offer a range of commissioning guidance and other support. It is a matter for local national health service bodies to identify the needs of their local population and commission the appropriate services.

NHS: Equality

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to ensure that the organisations and individuals responsible for the distribution of resources within the health and social care system are aware of the legislative requirements arising from the Equality Act 2010.

Paul Burstow: Guidance is available from a number of sources including the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Government Equalities Office and NHS Employers with whom the Department is working to support the national health service to implement the Equality Act 2010.
	The ‘NHS Operating Framework 2011-12’ reminds NHS organisations to ensure that all decisions are taken with due regard to the public sector Equality Duty to ensure that decisions are fair, transparent, accountable, evidence-based and consider the needs and rights of staff and patients across all the equality characteristics.

NHS: Equality

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken by his Department to work with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence to (a) review its guidance to ensure it is compliant with the Equality Act 2010, and (b) promote further research on ageing; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: As a public authority, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is required to fulfil its duties under the Equality Act 2010. It is for NICE as an independent body to ensure that its guidance is compliant with the Act.
	Where it considers the evidence base is lacking, NICE can make research recommendations as part of its guidance.

NHS: Manpower

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many nurses there are per head of population;
	(2)  how many GPs there are per head of population.

Simon Burns: The following table gives the numbers of nurses and general practitioners (GPs) per head of population as at 30 September 2010, the date of the last NHS Workforce Census.
	
		
			 Number of nurses and GPs per head of population in England as at 30 September 2010 
			  Headcount Headcount population per 100,000 
			 All Qualified Nursing Staff(1) 410,615 792.5 
			 All GPs (excluding retainers and registrars) 35,120 67.8 
			 (1) All Qualified Nursing Staff includes all qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff as well as GP practice nurses. Notes: 1. The new headcount methodology for 2010 data is not fully comparable with previous years data due to improvements that make it a more stringent count of absolute staff numbers. Further information on the headcount methodology is available in the Census publication. Headcount totals are unlikely to equal the sum of components. 2. Data as at 30 September 2010. Data Quality: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality where changes impact on figures already published. This is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed. Impact at detailed or local level is footnoted in relevant analyses. Sources: 1. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care General and Personal Medical Services Statistics 2. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care Non-medical Workforce Census 3. Office for National Statistics, 2009 Final Mid-Year Population Estimates (2001 census based), Adjusted May 2010 to reflect revisions to migration methodology

NHS: Reorganisation

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether KPMG has provided advice to his Department on its proposals for NHS reforms; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether (a) he, (b) Ministers, (c) senior officials and (d) special advisers in his Department have (i) contacted and (ii) met Mark Britnell since May 2010.

Paul Burstow: No advice has been provided to the Department on the national health service reforms by KPMG.
	No Ministers or special advisers have made contact or met Mark Britnell since May 2010. No senior officials of the Department at permanent secretary or director-general level have contacted or met Mark Britnell in an official capacity since May 2010. Ministers and senior officials may from time to time, attend external events at which delegates from KPMG may be in attendance.

NHS: Standards

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress is being made on the disaggregation of outcome indicators within the NHS Outcomes Frameworks Framework 2011-12 by (a) age, (b) ethnicity, (c) religion or belief, (d) gender, (e) disability and (f) sexual orientation.

Paul Burstow: Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 places a general Equality Duty on listed public authorities, including national health service organisations and the Department, to eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation, advance equality and promote good relations. Information is key to providing transparency to evidence progress made in reducing inequality in line with the three aims of the Equality Duty.
	On 17 March 2011, a ‘policy review’ was launched by the Minister for Women and Equalities. This review proposed a less process orientated approach to equality. Any proposals around the development of additional policy metrics by the Department would need to be within the context of the results of that policy review.
	In Annex A of “The NHS Outcomes Framework 2011-12”, published in December 2010, we set out an initial assessment of the data availability of indicators that can be disaggregated by equality and health inequalities characteristics. We are currently assessing these breakdowns, as well as others, with data suppliers.
	A copy of “The NHS Outcomes Framework 2011-12” has already been placed in the Library.

NHS: Trade Unions

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff of each NHS trust are entitled to work (a) full-time as trade union representatives and (b) part-time on trade union activities; how many such staff are paid more than £25,900 per annum; and what the cost to the public purse of employing such staff was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: This information is not held centrally. It is for employers and representatives of locally recognised trade unions to agree in partnership local agreements and procedures that are appropriate to local circumstances.

NHS: Training

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how much per capita his Department spent on training nurses in each of the last five years;
	(2)  how much per capita his Department spent on training doctors in each of the last five years.

Anne Milton: The Department does not hold data in the requested format.
	Education and training of the health care workforce includes central funding through the multi professional education and training (MPET) budget and funding by local national health service organisations. The Department does not analyse MPET expenditure between health care professions and does not hold data on the amount of spend on education and training by local NHS organisations.

Occupational Therapy: Manpower

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS occupational therapists there are per 100,000 population in each NHS region.

Simon Burns: The following table gives the number of occupational therapists per 100,000 population in each national health service region as at the 30 September 2010, the date of the last NHS workforce census.
	
		
			 NHS hospital and community health services: qualified occupational therapy staff in England per 100,000 population by strategic health authority area as at 30 September 2010 
			  Number 
			 England 34.3 
			   
			 North East Strategic Health Authority area 39.1 
			 North West Strategic Health Authority area 35,0 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Strategic Health Authority area 34.6 
			 East Midlands Strategic Health Authority area 38.0 
			 West Midlands Strategic Health Authority area 33.3 
			 East of England Strategic Health Authority area 29.4 
			 London Strategic Health Authority area 32.8 
			 South East Coast Strategic Health Authority area 32.5 
			 South Central Strategic Health Authority area 29.5 
			 South West Strategic Health Authority area 41.8 
			 Notes: 1. Figures are calculated using headcount staff in post figures. 2. Figures are rounded to one decimal place. 3. Staff in post figures are as at 30 September 2010. Population figures are ONS estimates for 2009. 4. 2009 is the latest available population data. Sources: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care non-medical workforce census. Office for National Statistics 2009 final mid-year population estimates (2001 census-based).

Prion Working Group

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will place in the Library the terms of reference of the Prion Working Group.

Anne Milton: The remit of the United Kingdom (UK) Blood Services' Prion Working Group (PWG) is:
	“The working group will advise the UK Blood Services on the most appropriate ways to ensure the safety of blood, cells, tissues and organs for transfusion/transplantation in relation to risk associated with prion proteins. Its remit includes:
	1. acting as a single source of blood, tissue and organ related scientific advice on prion transmission related issues;
	2. being the single point of contact between UK Blood Services and manufacturers of prion filters and prion assays, and any other technology to reduce prion risk;
	3. providing advice on the requirements for evaluation of prion filters, prion assays and any other new technology to reduce prion risk;
	4. acting as the primary point of contact between UK Blood Services and collaborating institutions including the Health Protection Agency (Efficacy and endogenous hamster infectivity studies), Roslin Institute (Sheep endogenous infectivity studies), Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease Oversight Committee of the National Institute of Biological Standards and Control (Prion assay sensitivity) and non-UK Blood Services;
	5. overseeing both .current and future evaluation projects on behalf of the UK Blood Services;
	6. taking ownership and reviewing the UK Blood Services position statement on vCJD and risk assessments on behalf of Standing Advisory Committee on Transfusion Transmitted Infection (SACTT1) on an annual basis, or more frequently if required;
	7. providing advice on non-negative samples identified in any prevalence study conducted by the UK Blood services.”
	The PWG terms of reference are:
	“In formulating its advice, the working group will:
	take full account of the scientific evidence available, including the nature of uncertainties and assumptions used to reach conclusions;
	identify specific areas of research where further work is required to reduce uncertainty;
	consider the impact of its advice on all stakeholders in the blood, tissue and organ supply chains, including but not exclusively donors, patients, the UK blood services and the wider National Health Service;
	take full account of the need to maintain the safety of .blood, tissues and organs, operating under the remit of the Precautionary Principle;
	take account of the financial implications of assessing or introducing new technologies to mitigate the risk of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease transmission by blood, tissues or organs;
	act independently of any commercial organisation with whom it works and, proactively identify potential conflicts of interest;
	maintain confidentiality of any data made available to it as per confidentiality agreements;
	work closely with Scientific Advisory Committees and the Joint United Kingdom Blood Transfusion Services and National Institute of Biological Standards and Control Professional Advisory Committee (JPAC) on the approval of systems as suitable for use;
	take full account of the work conducted by the Governments' Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO);
	ultimately be accountable to the UK Forum.”

Public Expenditure

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how frequently he plans to assess the effect of inflation on the real-terms increase in his Department's budget;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the future level of inflation at which any real-terms increase in his Department's budget would cease.

Simon Burns: The Government are committed to real terms increases in health spending, as set out in “The Coalition: our programme for government”. The Government are meeting this commitment.
	The Office of Budget Responsibility produces projections for measures of inflation at least twice a year.

Radiotherapy: Finance

Tessa Munt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 11 May 2011, Official Report, column 527, on radiotherapy: finance, whether NHS hospital trusts are able to apply directly to his Department for additional investment for radiotherapy; and whether any such applications have been received by his Department;
	(2)  whether the allocation of funding to primary care trust baselines for the period 2011-12 to 2014-15 will be adjusted to take account of (a) planned expenditure and (b) assessed need;
	(3)  to which primary care trusts additional funding for 2011-12 will be allocated.

Paul Burstow: ‘Improving Outcomes: A Strategy for Cancer’ sets out our commitment to expand radiotherapy capacity by investing over £150 million in additional funding over the next four years. National health service trusts cannot apply directly to the Department for this funding, as this money is allocated to all primary care trusts (PCTs) through their recurrent revenue allocations for 2011-12 and 2012-13. From 2013-14, it is intended that the NHS Commissioning Board will take over the allocation of resources from the Department.
	Recurrent revenue allocations are currently made to PCTs on the basis of a weighted capitation formula, used to determine PCTs' target shares of available resources to enable them to commission similar levels of health services for populations in similar need. Once allocated, it is for PCTs to use this funding to commission services to meet the health care needs of their local populations, taking account of local and national priorities.

Speech Therapy: Manpower

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many speech and language therapists employed in the public sector there are per 10,000 population.

Anne Milton: The following table gives the number of speech and language therapists employed in national health service hospitals or community health services per 10,000 of population as at 30 September 2010, the date of the last NHS work force census. The NHS Information Centre do not hold data on this speciality who may be employed in the wider public sector.
	
		
			 NHS hospital and community health services: Qualified Speech and Language Therapy staff in England per 10,000 population by strategic health authority area as at 30 September 2010 
			  Number 
			 England 1.4 
			   
			 North East Strategic Health Authority area 1.6 
			 North West Strategic Health Authority area 1.4 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber Strategic Health Authority area 1.3 
			 East Midlands Strategic Health Authority area 1.2 
			 West Midlands Strategic Health Authority area 1.4 
			 East of England Strategic Health Authority area 1.2 
			 London Strategic Health Authority area 2.4 
			 South East Coast Strategic Health Authority area 1.4 
			 South Central Strategic Health Authority area 1.2 
			 South West Strategic Health Authority area 1.5 
		
	
	
		
			 Notes: 1. The NHS IC only holds information on speech and language therapists employed by NHS hospitals or community health services. We do not hold data on speech and language therapists employed elsewhere in the wider public sector. 2. Figures are calculated using headcount staff in post figures. 3. Figures are rounded to one decimal place. 4. Staff in post figures are as at 30 September.2010. Population figures are ONS estimates for 2009. 5. 2009 is the latest available population data. Sources: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care Non-Medical Workforce Census Office for National Statistics 2009 Final Mid-Year Population Estimates (2001 census based)

St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what meetings (a) he and (b) his officials have had with the North West Strategic Health Authority to discuss the future of St. Helens and Knowsley NHS Trust; and who was present at each such meeting.

Paul Burstow: The Secretary of State for Health, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Cambridgeshire (Mr Lansley), met with NHS North West on 15 February 2011 to discuss the wider national health service reform programme and implications for the region. This meeting included discussing the implications of the reforms for St Helens and Knowsley NHS Trust alongside other NHS organisations in the region. In attendance at the meeting were the NHS chief executive and the chair and chief executive of NHS North West.
	In addition, the managing director of provider development and director of provider delivery from the Department of Health have met with NHS North West to discuss the plans being agreed for the remaining NHS trusts to achieve foundation trust status by April 2014.

Trade Unions

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many staff of (a) his Department, (b) the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and (c) the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency are entitled to work (i) full-time as trade union representatives and (ii) part-time on trade union activities; how many such staff are paid more than £25,900 annually; and what the cost to the public purse of employing such staff on such duties was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Simon Burns: The Department and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) currently employ 3.4 whole-time equivalent staff to work as trade union officials. Of these, 2.8 whole time equivalents are elected by the Public and Commercial Service Union and the remainder by Prospect. All are 'full-time' (ie 100% of their time is dedicated to union duties) and all are paid more than £25,900 annually.
	The First Division Association union representative is not a 'full-time' union official and salary costs are met by the directorate that employs him.
	In the financial year 2010-11, there were 3.4 whole-time equivalent staff. The cost of salaries was £210,826. Other costs incurred by these officials, such as for expenses, are met by their respective unions.
	All other union officials, such as branch executive officers and local union representatives are covered by the Department's facility time agreement and are not full-time. As the time spent on industrial relations is minimal, their salary costs are met by local directorates. It is not, therefore, possible to make an estimate of the cost of these activities and to collect this information would incur disproportionate cost.
	The Department, the MHRA and the recognised trades unions place high value on fostering and maintaining good industrial relations. We work in partnership to achieve shared aims, objectives and outcomes. The granting of reasonable facilities and facility time by the Department and its agencies to the recognised trades unions makes an important contribution to the success of the organisation.
	The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency closed on 31 December 2009.

Whiston Hospital: Finance

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what submissions his Department has received from the Strategic Health Authority on potential solutions to the financial problems at Whiston hospital; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each such document.

Paul Burstow: The Department receives routine financial information from national health service trusts, including St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, the host organisation for Whiston hospital. Analyses of this information are published regularly by the Department. There have been no separate submissions received by the Department from the Strategic Health Authority on the financial position of Whiston hospital.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Developing Countries: Education

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with the executive director of UN Women on increasing the level of education for girls and women during her recent visit to the UK.

Andrew Mitchell: I had wide-ranging discussions with Michelle Bachelet, executive director of UN Women, when she visited the UK on 16-17 May, including on my Department’s Strategic Vision for Girls and Women. This will work in 23 country programmes and support over nine million children in primary school, at least half of which will be girls, and put at least 700,000 girls into secondary education by 2014. Ms Bachelet agreed that educating girls was crucial and explained how UN Women will work closely in partnership with other UN organisations like UNICEF and UNESCO to improve girls’ education.

Developing Countries: Education

Anas Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he plans to take to ensure that teacher training delivered under his Department’s commitment in the Bilateral and Multilateral Aid Reviews(a)is of a high quality and(b)includes participatory and inclusive teaching methods to enable marginalised children including girls and children with disabilities to participate in classroom activities.

Stephen O'Brien: Supporting countries to develop realistic plans for recruiting, training and retaining teachers is an integral part sector planning, which the Department for International Development (DFID) supports in all countries where we have education programmes. DFID provides technical expertise and guidance to partner countries to help ensure that teacher training is of high quality and that teachers are responsive to the needs of all their students, including the marginalised.
	DFID has published a guidance note on inclusive education for children with disabilities in developing countries. This note, available on the DFID website, offers practical suggestions on how teachers can support children with disabilities to access education and learn effectively.

Developing Countries: Fisheries

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the merits of introducing tradable permit schemes to improve fisheries management in developing countries.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) has not made a specific assessment of the merits of introducing tradable permit schemes to improve fisheries management in developing countries. However, DFID supports the Partnership for African Fisheries (PAF) which aims to improve the contribution of fisheries to African economic growth and food security. A key objective of the partnership will be the development and eventual implementation of a Comprehensive African Fisheries Reform Strategy. The PAF and the World Bank have both promoted the idea of ‘rights-based’ fisheries management, of which tradable permits are one possible approach.

Developing Countries: Sustainable Development

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to support the sustainable development of urban environments in developing countries.

Stephen O'Brien: The Department for International Development (DFID) has a number of programmes that support the sustainable development of urban environments. These are focused on the poorest urban residents who often live in marginalised areas, subject to flooding and other environmental threats, with very limited services for effluent and waste disposal.
	For example, in Bangladesh, DFID is working through the United Nations Development Programme to support slum improvements in 34 towns and cities which will benefit three million people over six years. DFID supports private sector programmes including the community-led infrastructure financing facility which provides capacity building and loan finance for slum development projects that are implemented in the urban environments of India, the Philippines and Kenya. Research on urbanisation and infrastructure is also being supported through the international growth centre.

Overseas Aid

Harriet Harman: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development when he plans to bring forward legislative proposals to make legally binding the target to spend 0.7 per cent. of gross national income on overseas aid by 2013.

Andrew Mitchell: The coalition Government have set out how we will meet our commitment to spend 0.7% of national income as overseas aid from 2013. We will enshrine that commitment in law as soon as the parliamentary timetable allows.

Palestinians: International Assistance

Yasmin Qureshi: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/65/272 will be incorporated into his Department's diplomatic policy on the Middle East.

Alistair Burt: I have been asked to reply.
	The UK voted in favour of the UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/65/272 in order to reinforce our support to the UN Relief and Works Agency's (UNRWA) management reform process and to acknowledge UNRWA's critical financial situation.
	The UK, through the Department for International Development (DFID), has been working closely with UNRWA to ensure that robust management reform plans are implemented to achieve maximum efficiency. DFID has a five year agreement with UNRWA to provide un-earmarked funding to UNRWA's general budget which includes a performance tranche payable if UNRWA meets agreed targets for reform. UNRWA is committed to reform and to date has received the additional tranche of funding each year.

Trade Unions

Gavin Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what financial support his Department has provided to (a) the National Union of Teachers, (b) the National Association of Schoolmasters and Union of Women Teachers, (c) the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, (d) the National Association of Head Teachers and (e) schemes run by those organisations in each year since 1997.

Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development has provided funding to the National Union of Teachers through a grant beginning April 2009 under the Development Awareness Fund. Details of this funding are available in the Library of the House. I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 7 December 2010, Official Report, column 215W.
	All DFID’s support for programmes to raise awareness of international development is currently being reviewed.

Trade Unions

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many staff of his Department are entitled to work (a) full-time as trade union representatives and (b) part-time on trade union activities; how many such staff are paid more than £25,900 annually; and what the cost to the public purse of employing such staff on such duties was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) has one full-time member of staff allocated to trade union activities under a ‘facility time’ agreement. There are three other elected trade union representatives who spend a minimal amount of time on trade union activity. The salary of the full-time staff member was in the range of £30,000 to £35,000 in 2010-11.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Bahamas: High Commissions

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has considered the merits of reopening the British high commission in the Bahamas.

David Lidington: I refer to the statement made by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) to the House on 11 May 2011, Official Report, columns 1165-68:
	“We will now reverse the previous Government's policy of closing embassies and reducing our diplomatic presence in key parts of the world”.
	In the Caribbean we will keep our existing network fully open and staffed. But, regrettably, due to pressures on our resources, we will not be opening new posts there.

British Nationals Abroad: Criminal Investigation

Charlotte Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what provision his Department makes for legal assistance to British nationals under investigation without charge but unable to leave countries such as the United Arab Emirates.

David Lidington: If a British national is subject to a travel ban, consular staff can assist by providing a list of local English-speaking lawyers, information about any organisations or charities that may be able to help, and can contact family and friends in the UK on their behalf if they are unable to do so easily. We are unable to give legal advice. We will consider approaching the local authorities if there are concerns that a British national subject to the local law is not treated in line with applicable international standards. Guidance for the support we offer to British nationals in difficulty abroad is explained in our publication ‘Support for British nationals abroad: A guide’, which is also available on the FCO website.

Burma: Prisoners

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise at the United Nations the recent announcement by the Burmese authorities of an amnesty in order to establish the nature of the amnesty and any differentiation made by the government of Burma between criminals and those held for their political beliefs.

Jeremy Browne: The Burmese Government announced on 16 May that it had reduced the sentences of all prisoners by one year and commuted all death sentences to life imprisonment. Reports indicate that over 14,000 prisoners have been released but we think that only 47 were political prisoners, who were anyway nearing the end of their sentences. We also understand that over 300 death sentences were commuted and note that no death sentences have been carried out in Burma for over 20 years. The UK made clear in a closed session of the UN Security Council on 19 May that the amnesty falls far short of the demands and expectations of the international community, which has repeatedly called for the release of all of Burma's over 2,000 political prisoners. Burmese law criminalises basic civil and political rights and the Burmese authorities have frequently denied the existence of prisoners of conscience claiming that all have been guilty of criminal offences.

Departmental Data Protection

Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many contracts his Department holds which allow contractors to store personal data of UK citizens overseas; to which contracts this applies; in which countries the data for each such contract is held; and how many people have their data stored overseas under each such contract.

David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) Consular Directorate holds four contracts which allow contractors to store personal data of UK citizens overseas.
	(i) FedEx Express to deliver legalised documents to customers overseas (who may or may not be a British National). This contract allows Fedex Express to store personal data of customers requiring this service. The data are held in Memphis, USA and under the terms of the contract Fedex Express are required to observe all data protection provisions, including only holding the data as long as is reasonably necessary. There are approximately 250 customers who use this service per week and as of 16 May 2011, there were 1,750 people who had their data stored by Fedex Express under this contract.
	(ii) The British Red Cross, who provide psycho-social support to British Nationals following a consular crisis overseas. The Red Cross holds all data in the UK and are fully compliant with the Data Protection Act 1998.
	(iii) Teleperformance to provide a call-centre service to respond to inquiries on our Travel Advice. Some callers to this service may request to be sent one of our travel advice leaflets. In these cases, Teleperformance will take a name and address from that caller and will use it to send out the requested leaflet. This data is stored in the UK, in line with the Data Protection Act 1998. During a consular crisis the contract we have with Teleperformance is sometimes extended to include crisis related calls. At such times the contractor briefly stores personal data of British citizens who may be overseas and transfers this to the FCO to provide crisis related assistance. Teleperformance does not archive this data.
	(iv) Snap Survey. In June 2011, Consular Directorate will launch a customer satisfaction survey, using software provided under license from SnapSurveys.com, Respondents to the survey (who may or may not be a British National) can submit contact details if they would like Consular Directorate to get in touch with them to give further customer feedback. This data is stored by Snap, in compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998, in the UK. There is currently no data stored under this contract.
	Other non consular contracts which allow contractors to store personal data are not kept centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Mobile Phones

Mike Freer: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the name is of each contractor or supplier of (a) mobile telephone and (b) mobile data services to his Department.

David Lidington: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has a contract with Vodafone which provides mobile telephones and data services in the UK.
	A full list of all suppliers abroad is available only at disproportionate cost because budgets are devolved to our network of over 260 posts, which have contracts with local mobile telephone providers.

European Union: Publicity

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will have discussions at EU level on reducing the funding spent by the EU on publicity campaigns.

David Lidington: While it is important for institutions such as the EU to communicate effectively with the general public, spend on this should be efficient, affordable and proportional. Funding levels for the EU to communicate its work publicly, as for all other EU activities, will be decided within the negotiations on the EU 2012 Budget. Within those negotiations, this Government are seeking substantial reductions in spend and greater efficiency across all areas of the Budget.

International Criminal Court

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to encourage states that do not recognise the International Criminal Court to do so.

David Lidington: We, together with EU partners, regularly lobby all countries that have not yet done so to take steps towards ratification of the Rome Statute and implementation of the statute into their domestic legislation. This will ensure that the International Criminal Court's (ICC) jurisdiction continues to expand and that States Parties are able to fully co-operate with the ICC's investigations.
	The most recent occasion was on 5 April 2011, when our embassy in Kathmandu raised this issue with the Nepalese Government as part of an EU lobbying exercise. We underlined our commitment to this issue during the ICC's Review Conference in Kampala in June 2010, where we also made a pledge to promote ratification and implementation within the Commonwealth.

Libya: Cluster Munitions

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the use of cluster munitions in Libya; and if he will make a statement.

William Hague: We are aware of media reports of the use of cluster munitions by Gaddafi regime forces, in particular around Misrata. We and our North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies do not use cluster munitions.

Middle East

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to hold discussions with the US administration on the Middle East following the visit by President Obama to that region.

Alistair Burt: We regularly discuss middle east issues with US counterparts and will continue to do so, including during the forthcoming State visit of President Obama to the UK from 24-26 May 2011.

Middle East: Politics and Government

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what (a) reports he has received on and (b) assessment he has made of the implications for the Middle East Peace Process of the agreement of 27 April 2011 between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas; what discussions he has had with (a) the government of Israel, (b) the Palestinian Authority, (c) the Arab League and (d) his US counterpart on this issue; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The reconciliation agreement was signed at a ceremony in Cairo on 4 May 2011, attended by President Abbas for the Palestinian Authority; Khaled Mishaal for Hamas and the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Nabil el Araby. A representative from our embassy in Cairo attended as an observer, along with key EU partners.
	My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister met with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on 4 May 2011 and discussed the announcement on Palestinian unity. We renew our calls on both sides to commit to peace talks, leading to a Palestinian state that exists in peace and security alongside Israel. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague) has been clear that Britain hopes that the announcement of reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas will lead to the formation of a Government that rejects violence and pursues a negotiated peace, and we will judge a future Palestinian Government by its actions and its readiness to work for peace.
	We will continue to monitor and discuss with the Palestinian Authority, Arab League and US via our British Missions.

North Korea: Foreign Policy

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the objectives are of UK policy on North Korea.

Jeremy Browne: The UK shares the widely-held international objective of a North Korea which does not pose a threat to regional or global security, and adheres to international law and conventions, including on human rights.
	To achieve this, the UK pursues a policy of critical engagement. We support international efforts towards a complete and verifiable denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, through sanctions and talks between relevant parties. We also have diplomatic relations with North Korea. Such engagement enables us to raise difficult issues, which is important particularly during times of heightened tension. It also allows us to carry out a programme of humanitarian projects and English Language Teacher Training.

Queen Elizabeth II: Anniversaries

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has allocated in respect of the Queen's Birthday celebrations in British Embassies in (a) each of the last three years and (b) 2011 to date.

David Lidington: Budgets in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, including the amount spent on the Queen's birthday celebrations, are devolved to over 260 posts. As details are not held centrally, this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

UN Security Council

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps his Department has taken to seek reform of the UN Security Council.

William Hague: Her Majesty's Government support UN Security Council reform and are working with international partners on this. We continue to support the aspirations of Brazil, Germany, India and Japan as well as African representation for permanent seats on the Council. Earlier this month officials attended Security Council Reform Workshops in Doha and Rome. At these meetings the UK encouraged all member states to engage constructively in the process of reform.

Yemen: Politics and Government

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his (a) EU and (b) UN counterparts on the political situation in Yemen.

Alistair Burt: The focus of the UK is encouraging the ruling party and the official opposition in Yemen to reach agreement on peaceful transition. The Government recognise the urgency with which a political settlement in Yemen must be reached to avoid further violence and a deepening economic crisis. To this end we have actively engaged our international partners, including the EU, to encourage unified and strong messaging to the Government of Yemen and the parliamentary opposition.
	I welcome the support given by Baroness Ashton, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission. In light of reports that both the ruling party and the opposition agreed to the Gulf Co-operation Council transition plan she issued an EU declaration on behalf of the 27 member states urging all parties to move quickly to finalise the plan. Our officials have been working intensively alongside EU missions in Sana'a and European capitals to garner support for the latest initiative. My officials will continue to liaise with our EU counterparts to maintain the momentum of recent progress towards a democratic, peaceful and inclusive transitional process.
	After the visit to Yemen in April by the UN Special Adviser, Jamal Benomar, when he met a wide range of Yemeni, UK and EU officials, the UN Security Council discussed Yemen for the first time since the political crisis began. Mr Benomar returned to Yemen in early May, and again met UK colleagues. Further meetings with senior colleagues are expected during Mr Benomar's forthcoming trip to the UK. The international community is becoming increasingly focussed on Yemen, and I welcome the intensification of all our efforts to see a quick and peaceful resolution to the current situation.

Zimbabwe: British Nationals

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 26 April 2011, Official Report, column 406W, on Zimbabwe: British nationals abroad, what information on safety and security his Department provides to UK citizens wishing to relocate to Zimbabwe and not only to travel to or through that country.

Henry Bellingham: The “Living Abroad” page on the FCO website:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/living-overseas/
	and the “Going to Live Abroad” booklet:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/resources/en/pdf/2855621/going-to-live-abroad
	give generic tips on starting life abroad.
	Our Travel Advice for Zimbabwe gives general advice to British nationals travelling to Zimbabwe whatever the purpose of their visit at:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/sub-saharan-africa/zimbabwe
	If the move is business related Overseas Security Information for Business (OSIB), a joint FCO/UKTI venture provide information at:
	http://www.ukti.gov.uk/export/howwehelp/osibupdatesinfo.html
	The UK in Zimbabwe website provides information on Living in Zimbabwe at:
	http://ukinzimbabwe.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/living-in-zimbabwe/

EDUCATION

Special Educational Needs

Penny Mordaunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what progress he has made on the reform of provision for children with special educational needs in (a) Portsmouth North constituency and (b) England.

Sarah Teather: We published a Green Paper “Support and aspiration: A new approach to special educational needs and disability” on 9 March. This is out to consultation until 30 June. We will consider responses carefully before taking forward our reforms. We will shortly be inviting tenders for pathfinders to test proposals in the Green Paper. Within the general framework for special needs provision, it is for local authorities to determine the particular arrangements in their areas.

Capital Funding: Liverpool

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much capital funding he has allocated for schools in Liverpool during the comprehensive spending review period; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Gove: The Department has allocated £30.6 million to two academy projects in Liverpool, and a further £12.3 million to Liverpool schools in 2011/12. Further allocations will be announced in due course, informed by the recommendations made in Sebastian James’ report.

Disadvantaged Children

Amber Rudd: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to improve the educational achievement of disadvantaged children in (a) Hastings and Rye constituency and (b) England.

Tim Loughton: In Hastings and Rye, disadvantaged children will benefit from a pupil premium of £430 per pupil to ensure they receive the support they need. Funding of £625 million is available in 2011-12, rising to £2.5 billion a year by 2014-15.
	The pupil premium will be allocated to schools according to the number of pupils who are known to be eligible for free school meals or have been looked after continuously for at least six months.

Human Trafficking: Child Victims

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what funding his Department has allocated to non-governmental organisations to provide safe homes for child victims of human trafficking in 2011-12.

Tim Loughton: The Department has provided a grant of £521,360 for 2011-12 to Barnardo’s to deliver a project which will work with local authorities to train specialist carers in providing safe fostering placements for victims of child sexual exploitation and trafficking. A further grant of £876,360 for 2012-13 will be made to Barnardo’s, providing they meet their first year targets, to allow them to build on and improve capacity for this specialist service.

Free Schools

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many expressions of interest in establishing a free school his Department is proceeding with.

Michael Gove: My Department is working with 26 groups which have submitted applications for free schools and are now in the pre-opening stage. I expect to receive a large number of high quality applications in June for the next round. We have had very strong interest indeed from parents, teachers and others wanting to set up new, high quality free schools.

Free Schools

Geraint Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proposals for (a) primary and (b) secondary free schools he has received in each local authority area; and what the (i) proposed start date and (ii) pupil capacity is in each case.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 16 May 2011
	To date 40 proposals have been approved by the Secretary of State to proceed to business case and plan stage or beyond. We expect a number of these proposed schools to open in September 2011 with others opening in the following years. Until the approval and admissions processes are complete, it is not possible to provide accurate pupil numbers.
	A breakdown of the 40 proposals is provided in the following table with details of their locations and school phase:
	
		
			 Name of school Local authority Phase 
			 All Saints Junior School Reading Primary 
			 ARK Atwood Primary Academy Westminster Primary 
			 ARK Bolingbroke Academy Wandsworth Secondary 
			 ARK Conway Primary Academy Hammersmith and Fulham Primary 
			 Atherton Free School Wigan Secondary 
			 Barwick's Own 2nd Secondary School Stockton-on-Tees Secondary 
			 Batley Grammar School Kirklees All through 
			 BBG Parents Alliance Kirklees Secondary 
			 Bedford and Kempston Free School Bedford borough Secondary 
			 Brandon Free School Suffolk Secondary 
			 Bristol Free School Bristol Secondary 
			 Canary Wharf College Tower Hamlets All through 
			 Discovery New School West Sussex Primary 
			 Eden Primary School Haringey Primary 
			 Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School Barnet Primary 
			 Harris Peckham Primary Free School Southwark Primary 
			 King's Science Academy Bradford Secondary 
			 Krishna-Avanti Primary School Leicester City Primary 
		
	
	
		
			 Langley Hall Primary Academy Slough Primary 
			 Maharishi School Lancashire All through 
			 McAuley College Academy Kingston upon Hull Secondary 
			 Moorlands School Luton Primary 
			 Nishkam Free School Birmingham Primary 
			 Phoenix Academy of Performance Arts Northamptonshire Secondary 
			 Priors Free School Warwickshire Primary 
			 Rainbow Primary School Bradford Primary 
			 Redbridge Primary School (E-ACT) Redbridge Primary 
			 Rivendale Free School Hammersmith and Fulham Primary 
			 Sandbach School Cheshire East Secondary 
			 Shooters Hill Primary School of the Arts Greenwich Primary 
			 St Luke's C of E Primary School Camden Primary 
			 St Michael's Catholic Secondary School Cornwall Secondary 
			 Stoke-by-Nayland High School Suffolk Secondary 
			 Stour Valley Community School Suffolk Secondary 
			 Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School Blackburn with Darwen Secondary 
			 The Free School, Norwich Norfolk Primary 
			 Three Valleys Independent Academy Rotherham Secondary 
			 We Need A School Hertfordshire Secondary 
			 West London Free School Hammersmith and Fulham Secondary 
			 Woodpecker Hall Primary Academy Enfield Primary

Free Schools

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many groups have expressed an interest in establishing a free school in (a) Weaver Vale constituency and (b) England.

Nick Gibb: When the initial application round closed in February 2011, the Department for Education had not received any proposals for free schools from groups in the Weaver Vale constituency but had received a total of 323 proposals for England as a whole. The application round for free schools planning to open in September 2012 has recently opened and we are expecting many further proposals.

City Challenge

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent assessment he has made of the performance of the City Challenge programme in London.

John Hayes: Last year, the Secretary of State approved an evaluation of the City Challenge programme, to enable us to fully assess its effectiveness. This will report towards the end of 2011 and copies will be placed in the Library. Our initial view, supported by an Ofsted report published in December, is that the programme had been helpful in raising school standards. That is why our broader programme of school improvement builds on its successes.

Child Protection Services

Chris Williamson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the potential effects on the provision of child protection services of reductions in local authority budgets.

Tim Loughton: The Department for Education has not made its own assessment, but I am aware of the research that has been carried out by other organisations in respect of the choices that local authorities are making. It is for local authorities to determine the allocation of their resources and I am sure that in doing so they will be taking in to account the needs of the most vulnerable children and young people.

Primary Schools: Foreign Languages

David Mowat: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to improve the teaching of modern foreign languages in primary schools; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: In advance of decisions following the review of the National Curriculum on which subjects will be statutory, we strongly encourage primary schools to continue teaching languages and building on the good progress already made. We will also be funding the provision of specific language support services for primary schools from the autumn of 2011.

Academies

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many schools have (a) converted and (b) applied to convert to academy status in (i) Pendle, (ii) Lancashire and (iii) England.

Nick Gibb: At present, no schools in Pendle have applied to convert to academy status. In Lancashire seven schools have applied, of which six have opened as academies.
	Full details of schools that have formally applied for academy status, as well as a list of academies that have opened in the academic year 2010/11, can be found on the DfE Academies website at:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/academies/a0069811/schools-submitting-applications-and-academies-that-have-opened-in-201011

Academies

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the value for money of increasing the number of academies.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 18 May 2011
	During the passage of the Academies Act 2010 the Department published an impact assessment which included reference to the benefits and costs of increasing the number of academies. A copy has been placed in the House Libraries.

Children: Abuse

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will discuss with representatives of the Roman Catholic Church the compatibility of the provisions of the Vatican's recent circular letter on guidelines for dealing with cases of sexual abuse of minors in respect of the responsibility of bishops for dealing with child abuse cases with the general responsibility to report cases of child abuse to the appropriate authorities.

Tim Loughton: There are no plans for such discussions. I understand that the letter referred to emphasises the importance of bishops following national requirements for reporting such abuse to the designated authority. I have no reason to believe that the Roman Catholic Church is in any doubt about the fact that all cases of suspected child abuse should be reported to local children's social care services or the police.

Departmental Billing

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many invoices his Department received in respect of goods or services supplied by tier 1 suppliers between 1 May 2010 and 1 April 2011; and how many of those invoices were not paid within the period of time specified in the Government's Fair Payment guidance.

Tim Loughton: Between the period 1 May 2010 and 1 April 2011 the Department did not receive any invoices from tier 1 suppliers.

Departmental CCTV

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many CCTV cameras are installed in and around his Department's premises; and how much such cameras cost to (a) install and (b) operate in the latest period for which figures are available.

Tim Loughton: The Department for Education has 105 CCTV cameras across its four sites as follows:
	London: 43;
	Darlington: 14;
	Runcorn: 25; and
	Sheffield: 23.
	The higher number of cameras in London reflects the size of the facility and the additional risks arising from the building's location within the central London Government Secure Zone.
	The cost of installing the CCTV systems for London, Darlington and Runcorn are not available due to the age of the installations being over six years ago.
	The cost of the installation of the CCTV system at 2 St Paul's Place in Sheffield forms part of the overall refurbishment cost for the building in 2009 and is not separately identifiable. Two additional cameras have been installed since the refurbishment at a cost of £464.
	The current annual cost for maintenance of the CCTV systems across the four sites is £4,666.

Departmental Research

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what (a) longitudinal and (b) other (i) research and (ii) collection of data his Department has (A) initiated, (B) terminated and (C) amended in the last 12 months; and what such research and data collection exercises undertaken by the Department have not been amended in that period.

Nick Gibb: Information about research and data collections which have been initiated, terminated and amended in the last 12 months (between 17 May 2010 and 18 May 2011), and research and data collections undertaken by the Department which have not been amended in that period has been placed in the House Libraries.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what assessment he has made of the effects of the withdrawal of education maintenance allowance on participation in further education by young people from low-income families whose distance from college entails high travel costs; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The equality impact assessment for the ending of education maintenance allowance and the introduction of the 16-19 bursary funding is available on the Department for Education website at:
	http://media.education.gov.uk/assets/files/pdf/1/ema%20 replacement%20scheme%20%20%20equality%20impact% 20assessment.pdf
	The 16-19 bursary funding will enable schools, colleges and training providers to support students facing the greatest financial barriers to participation, including the cost of transport.

Education: Finance

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 26 April 2011, Official Report, columns 280-81W, on education: finance, whether his Department has made an assessment of the effects of reductions in funding for student support services in (a) further education colleges, (b) sixth form colleges and (c) schools.

Nick Gibb: The Department has not made a formal assessment of the effects of reductions in funding for student support services in further education colleges, sixth-form colleges and schools. The Government have increased by £150 million the amount available for disadvantaged funding, additional learner support and Foundation Learning, to ensure that funding is targeted where it is most needed. The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund will, in addition, allow schools, colleges and training providers to award bursaries to students in ways that best fit local needs and circumstances. Further education colleges, sixth-form colleges and schools will have the flexibility to determine the most appropriate use of funding in order to meet the needs of their students.

Education: Finance

Nicholas Dakin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 10 May 2011, Official Report, column 1144W, on students: finance, whether a receipt of a guaranteed bursary will be conditional on students meeting any set standards.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 19 May 2011
	Subject to the result of the consultation on new financial support arrangements, we expect that schools, colleges and training organisations will make receipt of a 16-19 bursary—including bursaries guarantees to young people from vulnerable groups—conditional on a student meeting expected standards, for example, of attendance, behaviour or standard of work. Similar systems are already in place for education maintenance allowance, and schools and colleges have told us that the ability to set conditions is important for promoting a positive attitude to education.

Foster Care

Edward Timpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many young people who had been in local authority foster care in each (a) parliamentary constituency and (b) local authority enrolled in an undergraduate course in each of the last five years.

Tim Loughton: Information on the number of care leavers aged 19 in each local authority who are in higher education, who were also looked after aged 16 and whose final placement on ceasing was in foster care, is shown in the following table.
	Information at parliamentary constituency level is not collected centrally.
	
		
			 Children aged 19 years old who were in higher education (i.e. studies beyond A level) and who were looked after aged  16 years (in their 17th year in a foster placement as their final placement when they ceased to be looked after  (1,2,3)  . Years ending 31 March 2005 to 2010. Coverage: England 
			 Number 
			  2006  (4) 2007  (5) 2008  (6) 2009  (8) 2010  (8) 
			 England 230 220 240 260 270 
			       
			 North East 10 x 10 10 10 
			 Darlington 0 0 x x 0 
			 Durham 0 x x 0 x 
			 Gateshead x 0 x 0 x 
			 Hartlepool 0 0 0 0 x 
			 Middlesbrough 0 0 0 x 0 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne x x x x x 
			 North Tyneside 0 0 x x x 
			 Northumberland 0 x 0 0 x 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 0 0 0 0 x 
			 South Tyneside 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Sunderland x x x x x 
			       
			 North West 20 30 30 30 30 
			 Blackburn with Darwen x 0 0 0 x 
			 Blackpool 0 0 0 x 0 
			 Bolton x 0 x 0 x 
			 Bury 0 0 x 0 0 
			 Cheshire(9) x x x x n/a 
			 Cheshire East(9) n/a n/a n/a n/a x 
			 Cheshire West and Chester(9) n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 
			 Cumbria 0 x x x x 
			 Hatton 0 0 x 0 0 
			 Knowsley 0 0 0 x x 
			 Lancashire x x x x 0 
			 Liverpool 0 x x x 0 
			 Manchester x x 0 5 x 
			 Oldham x x x x x 
			 Rochdale 0 x 0 0 0 
			 Salford x x x x 0 
			 Sefton x 0 x 0 0 
			 St. Helens x x 0 x x 
			 Stockport 0 x x 0 5 
			 Tameside 0 0 x 0 x 
			 Trafford 0 x x x x 
		
	
	
		
			 Warrington 0 x 0 0 x 
			 Wig an x x x 0 0 
			 Wirral 0 x x x x 
			       
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 10 10 20 10 20 
			 Barnsley 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Bradford 0 x x x x 
			 Calderdale 0 x 0 x 0 
			 Doncaster 0 0 x 0 0 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 0 0 x 0 x 
			 Kingston upon Hull, City of x x x x 0 
			 Kirklees 0 0 x x 0 
			 Leeds 5 x x x x 
			 North East Lincolnshire x x x x x 
			 North Lincolnshire 0 x x 0 x 
			 North Yorkshire x x 0 0 x 
			 Rotherham 0 0 0 x 00 
			 Sheffield 0 x x x x 
			 Wakefield 0 x x 0 x 
			 York x 0 0 0 0 
			       
			 East Midlands 10 x 10 20 10 
			 Derby x x x 0 x 
			 Derbyshire x x x x 0 
			 Leicester x x x x x 
			 Leicestershire 0 0 0 x 0 
			 Lincolnshire 0 0 x x x 
			 Northamptonshire 0 x 0 x x 
			 Nottingham x 0 x 0 x 
			 Nottinghamshire 0 x 0 x x 
			 Rutland 0 0 x 0 0 
			       
			 West Midlands 30 20 30 40 40 
			 Birmingham 15 5 5 10 5 
			 Coventry x 0 0 x x 
			 Dudley x 0 x x 5 
			 Herefordshire 0 0 x x x 
			 Sandwell 5 x 5 x 5 
			 Shropshire 0 0 0 x 0 
			 Solihull x x 0 x x 
			 Staffordshire x x 0 x x 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 0 0 0 x x 
			 Telford and Wrekin x 0 0 x x 
			 Walsall x 0 0 x x 
			 Warwickshire x x 5 x x 
			 Wolverhampton 0 x 0 x x 
			 Worcestershire x x 5 x x 
			       
			 East of England 20 20 30 20 20 
			 Bedfordshire(9) x 0 x x n/a 
			 Bedford Borough(9) n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 
			 Central Bedfordshire(9) n/a n/a n/a n/a x 
			 Cambridgeshire 10 x x x x 
			 Essex 0 5 5 x x 
			 Hertfordshire x 10 5 x 5 
			 Luton 0 0 x x 0 
			 Norfolk x 0 x x x 
			 Peterborough 0 x x 0 x 
			 Southend-on-Sea x 0 0 5 0 
		
	
	
		
			 Suffolk 5 0 x x x 
			 Thurrock x x x 0 x 
			       
			 London 90 80 80 90 90 
			 Inner London 50 40 30 30 50 
			 Camden x 10 x x x 
			 City of London 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Hackney 10 x 0 0 x 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 10 0 x 0 x 
			 Haringey x x x x 10 
			 Islington x x 0 0 x 
			 Kensington and Chelsea x x 0 0 x 
			 Lambeth x 0 x 5 5 
			 Lewis ham 0 x x x x 
			 Newham 5 x x x 15 
			 Southwark x x x x x 
			 Tower Hamlets x 0 5 x x 
			 Wandsworth 5 x x x x 
			 Westminster x 5 x x x 
			       
			 Outer London 30 40 50 70 40 
			 Barking and Dagenham 0 x 10 10 x 
			 Bamet x x 5 x x 
			 Bexley 0 0 0 x x 
			 Brent 0 x x x x 
			 Bromley 0 0 x x 0 
			 Croydon 10 x 10 25 10 
			 Ealing x x x x x 
			 Enfield x x x 0 0 
			 Greenwich x x x x x 
			 Harrow 0 x x x 0 
			 Havering 0 0 x 0 0 
			 Hillingdon x 15 x x x 
			 Hounslow x x 0 0 x 
			 Kingston upon Thames x 0 0 x 0 
			 Merton x x x x x 
			 Redbridge x x x 0 x 
			 Richmond upon Thames 0 0 0 x x 
			 Sutton 0 0 x x x 
			 Waltham Forest x 0 x x 0 
			       
			 South East 30 30 30 30 40 
			 Bracknell Forest x 0 0 0 0 
			 Brighton and Hove x 0 x 0 x 
			 Buckinghamshire x x x x x 
			 East Sussex x x 0 x x 
			 Hampshire x x x 0 x 
			 Isle of Wight x x x 0 0 
			 Kent x x x x 10 
			 Medway Towns x x x x x 
			 Milton Keynes x 0 0 0 x 
			 Oxfordshire x x x 0 x 
			 Portsmouth x x 0 0 x 
			 Reading x 0 0 x x 
			 Slough x x x 0 0 
			 Southampton 0 x x 0 0 
			 Surrey x x x x x 
			 West Berkshire 0 0 x x 5 
			 West Sussex x 5 5 5 x 
		
	
	
		
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 0 0 x 0 0 
			 Wokingham 0 0 x 0 0 
			       
			 South West 20 10 20 20 20 
			 Bath and North East Somerset x 0 x 0 x 
			 Bournemouth 0 x 0 x 0 
			 Bristol, City of x 0 x x x 
			 Cornwall x x x x x 
			 Devon 0 0 0 x x 
			 Dorset 0 x x 0 0 
			 Gloucestershire x x x x 0 
			 Isles of Scilly 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North Somerset 0 x 0 x x 
			 Plymouth x 0 x x x 
			 Poole 0 0 x x 0 
			 Somerset x x x x x 
			 South Gloucestershire 0 0 0 0 0x 
			 Swindon 0 0 0 0  
			 Torbay x 0 x 0 x 
			 Wiltshire x x x x x 
			 n/a = not applicable x = Figures not shown in order to protect confidentiality (1) England and regional totals have been rounded to the nearest 10. Other numbers have been rounded to the nearest five. For confidentiality purposes, numbers from one to five inclusive have been replaced by a cross (x). (2) Figures exclude children who were looked after on 1 April aged 16 (in their 17th year) under an agreed series of short-term placements. (3) Includes children who were in full and part-time higher education which was collected separately from 2006-07. (4) Children now aged 19 years old who were looked after on 1 April 2003 then aged 16 years old (in their 17th year). (5) Children now aged 19 years old who were looked after on 1 April 2004 then aged 16 years old (in their 17th year). (6) Children now aged 19 years old who were looked after on 1 April 2005 then aged 16 years old (in their 17th year). (7) Children now aged 19 years old who were looked after on 1 April 2006 then aged 16 years old (in their 17th year). (8) Children now aged 19 years old who were looked after on 1 April 2007 then aged 16 years old (in their 17th year). (9) In 2009, Cheshire local authority split in to Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester. Similarly, Bedfordshire LA split into Bedford borough and Central Bedfordshire. Source: SSDAQ03

Foster Care

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of children in each local authority area were in foster care in each of the last six years.

Tim Loughton: Information on the number and percentage of children who were in foster care, in each local authority area, in each of the last six years, has been placed in the House Libraries.
	This information, for year ending 31 March 2010, has also been published in tables LAA2 and LAA3 in the Statistical First Release ‘Children looked after in England (including adoption and care leavers) year ending 31 March 2010’, which is available on the Department's website via the following link:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000960/index.shtml

Health Education: Nutrition

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has to require schools to teach more about food and nutrition.

Nick Gibb: At present food is one of the components that may be studied at Key Stage 3 within the design and technology curriculum. On 20 January, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced that we are conducting a review of the national curriculum at both primary and secondary levels. This review includes consideration of the status of design and technology (and all its constituent modules).

Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator: Consultants

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator paid to (a) Grant Thornton in relation to the study on the Collection of Economic and Financial Information, (b) Frontier Economics in relation to the study on the Markets for Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, (c) Reckon LLP in relation to the study on Increasing Transparency of Qualification Fees, (d) PKF (UK) LLP in relation to the study on the Review of Awarding Bodies' Fees, (e) Grant Thornton in relation to the study on the Reasonableness of Fees in Other Widely Used Qualifications and (f) PricewaterhouseCoopers in relation to the Efficiency Study of the Regulated Qualifications System.

Nick Gibb: This is a matter for the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation and I have asked its chief executive, Glenys Stacey, to write directly to the hon. Member. A copy of her reply will be placed in the House Libraries.

Primary Education: Capital Investment

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what proportion of funding allocated to Sefton council under the Primary Capital programme for building projects beginning in 2011-12 has been withdrawn; and how many schools in Sefton local authority area have had funding withdrawn for building projects under the programme.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 16 May 2011
	The Primary Capital programme was one of a number of targeted funding streams which ended in 2010-11. The Department has reduced the number of ring-fenced capital programmes for 2011-12, enabling local prioritisation of funding.
	Sefton county council and its schools have been allocated £7,695,229 of capital funding for 2011-12. Decisions about priorities for investment rest with the local authority.

Pupils: Disadvantaged

Edward Timpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what additional monies he estimates will be spent funding the pupil premium in Crewe and Nantwich constituency in the financial year 2011-12.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 17 May 2011
	The January 2010 school censuses allow an estimate of the number of pupils known to be eligible for FSM to be made. In maintained schools and academies in the Crewe and Nantwich constituency in January 2010 there were 2,135 pupils known to be eligible, which would give rise to a pupil premium of £918,050. In addition to this there were eight pupils known to be eligible for the Service child premium, paid at a lower rate of £200 per pupil, which would give rise to a further £1,600. However, these are estimates only and are based on data for January 2010. It is not possible to determine the number of parliamentary constituency pupils recorded on the alternative provision census or recorded as looked after as they are both local authority, rather than establishment level, returns.
	Tables that contain the estimates based on the figures from the January 2010 census, disaggregated by local authority, region and constituency have been placed in the Libraries. Figures from the January 2011 census will be published in June.

School Meals: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much was paid to each school in Peterborough local education authority area in respect of the school lunch grant under the dedicated schools grant in each year since 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 17 May 2011
	The Department does not hold information about how much was paid to each school in Peterborough in respect of the school lunch grant. However, the total paid to Peterborough local authority in each year since 2005 are as follows:
	
		
			  £ 
			 2005-06 215,771 
			 2006-07 324,562 
			 2007-08 327,423 
			 2008-09 312,452 
			 2009-10 302,495 
			 2010-11 298,278 
		
	
	From 2011, the funding for the school lunch grant is part of the schools’ baseline funding announced in the spending review. The funding will not be ring-fenced as the Government believe that schools need more freedom to decide how to deploy their resources to meet the needs of their pupils. It will be for schools and local authorities to decide how to spend the funding in line with their priorities while consistent with the delivery of statutory nutritional standards.

Schools: Admissions

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many and what proportion of children living in each local education authority (LEA) area attended a (a) primary and (b) secondary school outside their LEA area in the last year for which figures are available.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 17 May 2011
	The latest information showing how many and what proportion of children living in each local authority attended a school outside their local authority area in January 2010 is available in the publication ‘Schools, Pupils and their Characteristics: January 2010’. This publication is available on the Department's website at the following address:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000925/index.shtml
	The information requested about (a) primary schools and (b) secondary schools is available in tables 15a and 15b at the following address:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000925/sfr09-2010xbmvv2.xls
	The information in this publication is based on data collected in the January 2010 school census. Information based on the January 2011 school census is scheduled to be published in June 2011.

Teachers: Training

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will place in the Library a copy of each item of evidence he considers before outlining his plans for initial teacher training to be school-based.

Nick Gibb: We intend to publish shortly a strategy document for general discussion giving details on our plans for initial teacher training reform, including for school-based training. A copy of the document along with the responses where permission is given for them to be made public will be placed in the House Libraries.

Teaching Methods

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will assess the teaching methods used in the instruction of reading, writing and arithmetic during initial recruit training in the Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force and examine how the resulting changes in educational attainment might be replicated in mainstream schools.

Nick Gibb: I understand that a range of approaches to the teaching of reading, writing and arithmetic will be used during initial training in the armed services, to enable the recruits to reach the required standard. The Government are currently assessing how standards in schools can be raised and have outlined their plans in the Schools White Paper “The Importance of Teaching” which was published on 24 November 2010.

Trade Unions

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many staff of his Department are entitled to work (a) full-time as trade union representatives and (b) part-time on trade union activities; how many such staff are paid more than £25,900 annually; and what the cost to the public purse of employing such staff on such duties was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Tim Loughton: The Department's trade union facilities agreement allows for three full-time trade union posts. The overall cost of trade union activity in the Department is capped at 0.2% of the paybill. For 2010-11 the overall salary expenditure to staff on trade union duties was £210,000, including the three full-time posts costing £92,000. In 2010-11, there were 39 trade union officials including the three full-time posts. The three staff engaged in the full-time posts were the only staff paid more than £25,900 annually for trade union duties.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Advantage West Midlands: Assets

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which assets owned by the West Midlands Regional Development Agency his Department has approved for sale; what the value is of each such asset; which further assets his Department plans to sell; and what the estimated monetary value is of those assets.

Mark Prisk: Advantage West Midlands, alongside the seven other regional development agency (RDAs) outside London, have put forward proposals for the disposal of a proportion of their land and property assets. Details of the sites expected to be sold in the short-term have been made available via the BIS website and the House Libraries. It would not be in the interest of securing best value for the taxpayer to indicate the assumed value of individual assets prior to sale. RDA boards remain responsible for determining which RDA assets should be sold. Decisions on further disposals will be announced in due course.

Arms Trade: Exports

John Stanley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 9 March 2011, Official Report, column 1173W and 31 March 2011, Official Report, columns 475-76W, on the arms trade: exports, for which countries arms export licences have been revoked as a result of his Department's review of export licences announced on 18 February 2011 since 15.00 on 3 March 2011; how many (a) individual and (b) open licences were revoked in respect of each country; and what the date of revocation was in each case.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 12 May 2011
	Since 15.00 on 3 March the following licences have been revoked:
	Libya
	One standard individual export licence (SIEL) was revoked on 4 March.
	Bahrain
	Bahrain was removed as a permitted destination from two open individual export licences (OIELs) on 4 March, three OIELs on 9 March and one OIEL on 30 March.
	Egypt
	Egypt was removed as a permitted destination from two OIELs on 4 March and one OIEL on 12 May.
	The review is ongoing as we continue to monitor how the situation develops in this region.

Business

Neil Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what discussions he has had with Ministerial colleagues on measures to promote opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises to win contracts with large corporations as (a) suppliers and (b) resellers of products and services; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: It is not the role of Government to intervene directly with respect to private sector contracts. However, the Government are committed to supporting small business to overcome barriers to growth and to access new markets through a range of new business improvement initiatives. These include:
	a national website and a national contact centre;
	the new Business Coaching for Growth programme; and
	a national mentoring network which will bring together existing networks of mentors in the voluntary and private sectors to provide advice to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
	In addition, specialist support is available to SMEs through UK Trade and Investment and the Manufacturing Advisory Service.
	We have also taken a number of steps to remove barriers to small businesses accessing public procurement opportunities. This includes promoting the use of the Government's single public procurement web portal—Contracts Finder—by prime suppliers to advertise appropriate sub-contracting opportunities.

Computer Software: Exports

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what information his Department holds on the export by UK businesses of internet filtering technologies and products in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Nick Hurd: I have been asked to reply.
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	Letter from Stephen Penneck, dated May 2011
	As Director-General for the Office for National Statistics (ONS), I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question to ask what information the Department holds on the export by UK businesses of internet filtering technologies and products in the last 12 months for which figures are available.
	I regret that the ONS does not separately identify this specific item or therefore publish statistics relating to it.
	The latest UK Balance of Payments Statistical Bulletin can be found at the following web link:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/product.asp?vlnk=1118

Credit

David Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will bring forward proposals to prohibit the use of facsimile signatures on credit agreements.

Edward Davey: The Call for Evidence issued as part of the Government's Consumer Credit and Personal Insolvency Review asked for views on rationalising the requirements around signing of agreements.
	The responses are being considered and the Government will make an announcement on next steps before the summer recess. Any proposal will need to balance appropriate protection for consumers and increased efficiency for lenders while providing clarity on the signature requirements for credit agreements.

Domestic Service: Conditions of Employment

Daniel Poulter: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the likely level of legal protection for domestic workers under the proposed International Labour Organization Convention on Domestic Workers.

Edward Davey: There has not yet been final agreement on the proposed convention, so it is not possible to comment in detail on the level of protection it would offer at this stage. The matter is to be discussed further at the forthcoming International Labour Conference. The Government will seek a workable convention that can be ratified by as many countries as possible, and consequently protect vulnerable domestic workers worldwide.

Environment Protection

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what progress his Department has made on the green economy roadmap.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 19 May 2011
	Over recent months, this Department has been working with the Department of Energy and Climate Change and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to develop a Roadmap to a Green Economy that will provide businesses with the longer term clarity they have been seeking from Government. The Departments have been looking at the evidence available and engaging with key stakeholders to understand the priorities and needs of business.
	The roadmap will be published this July. It will set out the Government's goals in enabling the transition to a green economy, the business and investment environment that is required and the policies that we will put in place to shape that business environment.

EU External Trade: India

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the Mode 4 component sought by India in the EU-India Free Trade Agreement negotiations; what requests have been made by India in respect of the redefinition of categories; what his policy is on minimum salary requirements for intra corporate transfers; when he expects a decision to be taken on the number of people to be admitted under the agreement; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: The EU-India Free Trade Agreement is still under negotiation. It is possible an outline deal may emerge by the summer.
	As part of the ongoing negotiation, we are assessing the requests India has made in Mode 4. These raise issues around lengths of stay, definitions of categories and sectoral coverage. We expect the agreement to be consistent with the Government's current policy of applying minimum salary requirements to intra-company transferees coming to the UK.

Government Departments: Bureaucracy

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to reduce administrative burdens and bureaucracy in government.

Mark Prisk: We recognise that badly-designed regulation and red tape can stifle enterprise and business growth and have set out a clear aim—to leave office having reduced the overall burden of regulation.
	The coalition agreement set out an ambitious agenda for dealing with the burden of red tape on businesses.
	In September, the Government introduced the One-in, One-out rule for new regulations so a new regulatory burden cannot be introduced without identifying another to be removed first. In December, we introduced a new approach to transposing EU directives, to end 'gold plating' and ensure they are not transposed in such a way that they disadvantage UK businesses relative to their EU competitors. In March we introduced sunset clauses in new regulations which impose a cost on businesses to ensure they remain relevant and are fit-for-purpose.
	Last year, we launched a series of formal reviews in areas which impose a particular burden on business, such as the Lord Young review of health and safety laws and the ongoing employment law review.
	In ‘The Plan for Growth', published alongside the Budget 2011, as part of a package of measures to improve the UK's regulatory environment, the Government announced that micro-businesses (those with fewer than 10 employees) would be exempt from all new domestic regulation for three years. We also decided not to extend the right to request time to train to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), potentially saving SMEs approximately £350 million and not to bring forward the dual discrimination provision, saving business up to £3 million per year.
	Last month, the Prime Minister launched the Red Tape Challenge website:
	www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
	which asks the public and businesses to identify regulations that need to be amended or removed. Every few weeks regulations affecting one specific sector or industry will be published on the website. There is also the opportunity to comment on cross-cutting areas of regulation, such as employment law.

Green Economy Council

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the agenda was for the most recent meeting of the Green Economy Council.

Mark Prisk: The most recent meeting of the Green Economy Council on 16 February discussed the council's terms of reference and the Government's Roadmap to a Green Economy, which is currently being developed.

Green Economy Council

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on what date the most recent meeting of the Green Economy Council was held.

Mark Prisk: The last meeting of the Green Economy Council took place on the 16 February.

Green Economy Council

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many times the Green Economy Council has met since its establishment.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 19 May 2011
	The Green Economy Council has met once since its establishment. Further meetings are planned.

Green Investment Bank

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 
	(1)  when he plans to announce the appointment of the chairperson of the Green Investment Bank;
	(2)  whether he has any plans to establish a shadow management board for the Green Investment Bank prior to its launch.

Mark Prisk: holding answer 19 May 2011
	The Government will announce their plans for the Green Investment Bank later this month (May 2011). These will set out governance arrangements, including prior to the bank's launch.

Harwell Science and Innovation Campus

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding his Department has provided to organisations located at the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in each of the last five years.

David Willetts: This Department's capital and resource funding to organisations located at Harwell in the last five years, delivered via the main funding partners (Science and Technology Facilities Council, Medical Research Council, Natural Environment Research Council, International Space Innovation Centre and UK Atomic Energy Authority) was as follows:
	
		
			  £ million 
			 2006-07 205.4 
			 2007-08 211.2 
			 2008-09 218.1 
			 2009-10 196.3 
			 2010-11 (1)147.8 
			 (1) Incomplete as data comes from different sources: some is unavailable as the data is unaudited, while some is provisional.

Higher Education: Anti-Semitism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether officials in his Department with policy responsibility for dealing with anti-Semitism in universities (a) have regular access to and (b) read Jewish weekly newspapers in the course of their official duties; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: Policy officials have access to a range of information sources to ensure they are well informed about issues facing the Jewish community in higher education. This will include relationships with other Government Departments and direct contact with external partners such as the Union of Jewish Students and the Community Security Trust. Officials will access the media where this is a necessary part of their duties.

Higher Education: Employment

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent steps he has taken to encourage the development of links between employers and universities.

David Willetts: We are working with partners such as the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (UKCES), the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) and others, to encourage further development of the links between employers and higher education institutions (HEIs). These relationships help deliver a more highly skilled work force, more effective use of our research base, and support for innovation and economic growth in key sectors. For example:
	We have asked UKCES to bring together employers in particular sectors to identify their evolving skills priorities and get them to collaborate in tackling their own skills needs through partnerships with universities and colleges;
	To ensure universities work more closely with business, we have maintained the Higher Education Innovation Funding at £150 million a year to support a broad range of knowledge exchange activities, and are introducing reforms which increase incentives for the most effective HEIs; and
	The Technology Strategy Board (TSB) are establishing a network of Technology and Innovation Centres (TICs) to help commercialise the outputs of our world-class research base and further bridge the gap between universities and businesses. TICs will allow businesses to access equipment and expertise that would otherwise be out of reach, help them access new funding streams, and point towards the potential of emerging technologies. TICs will receive £200 million in the current spending review period. The first will focus on high-value manufacturing, and TSB will run competitions in 2011-12 and 2012-13 to create an elite network of six to eight such TICs.
	We will continue to encourage close and sustained engagement between employers and universities that promote such high-level skills, knowledge transfer and collaborative research initiatives, to the benefit of business, the higher education sector and the wider economy.

Higher Education: Vocational Guidance

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether he has assessed the (a) availability and (b) quality of careers advice in universities.

David Willetts: Being independent, autonomous bodies the responsibility for providing careers advice within universities lies with the institutions in question. The vast majority of university careers offices are members of the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services (AGCAS) which is the professional association for higher education careers practitioners:
	www.agcas.org.uk
	Accreditation against matrix
	www.matrixstandard.com
	the Government quality standard for information, advice and guidance, is a criterion for institutional membership of AGCAS. AGCAS services also abide by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA)’s code of practice
	www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/codeOfPractice/section8/default.asp
	They also deliver a full range of professional development training via a suite of qualifications for careers staff in association with the university of Warwick.
	http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/study/cll/othercourses/careerstudies/
	Improving information for students is a key part of our future plans for higher education. The Higher Education Funding Council for England has consulted on proposals that higher education institutions should publish, from September 2012, a standard set of 17 key information items, for each course, on their websites. The information is based on what research shows that students want: information about costs, previous student satisfaction, employment outcomes and number of contact hours.
	The coalition Government are committed to improving the quality of careers advice for everyone, including students. We will establish the national careers service in England from April 2012 which will provide independent and expert advice to help young people and adults progress in learning and careers. Advisers in the service will have access to clear information about higher education courses and sources of funding.

Higher Education: Work Experience

Esther McVey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the employment prospects of graduates who undertake integrated work-based placements as part of degree courses.

David Willetts: In general employers say they are happy with the quality of UK graduates (National Employers Skill Survey 2009, UKCES 2010). However, they believe that graduates could be better provided with generic employability skills such as team working, leadership, etc. Higher education institutions are increasingly offering such programmes, including practical work experience placements, as part of their provision. We would like to see more of this approach and will, in our forthcoming White Paper, be highlighting to students, the higher education sector and employers the benefits of such activity.

Local Enterprise Partnerships

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the likely level of economic growth in areas not covered by local enterprise partnerships in each year to 2014.

Mark Prisk: No assessment has been made of the likely level of economic growth in areas not covered by local enterprise partnerships in each year to 2014. Currently 94% of all active enterprises are covered by a local enterprise partnership and we are continuing to work with new partnerships as they develop their proposals.

Manufacturing Industries

Jonathan Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he is taking to improve the status and profile of manufacturing as a career path; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Prisk: To improve the perception of manufacturing as a career path, the Government are funding STEMNET, a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics network which provides resources for students, teachers and professionals. We have also set up a programme of exhibitions on manufacturing, engineering and design and will shortly be piloting a series of open days in the automotive sector through the ‘See Inside Manufacturing’ initiative which will see companies like General Motors and Jaguar Land Rover open their doors to school children and students. This will be rolled out to other manufacturing sectors.

Nuclear Engineering: Training

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the UK's capacity to train nuclear engineers.

David Willetts: The Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, my right hon. Friend the Member for Twickenham (Vince Cable), has had no recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox), on the UK's capacity to train nuclear engineers.

Overseas Students

Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many students who are nationals of (a) Brazil, (b) the Russian Federation, (c) India and (d) China attended (i) universities and (ii) colleges in the UK in the latest period for which figures are available.

David Willetts: The latest available information from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) regarding students in UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is shown in Table 1. It is compulsory for HEIs to record a student's domicile, whereas nationality is not compulsory, therefore figures based on domicile have been provided. Figures for the 2010/11 academic year will be available in January 2012.
	
		
			 Table 1: Enrolments  (1)   by country of domicile, UK Higher Education Institutions, academic year 2009/10 
			 Country of domicile Enrolments 
			 Brazil 1,315 
			 Russian Federation 3,245 
			 India 38,500 
			 China 56,990 
			 (1) Covers enrolments to postgraduate and undergraduate full-time and part-time courses. Note: Figures are based on a HESA standard registration population and have been rounded to the nearest five. Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) 
		
	
	Table 2 shows the number of learners participating in Further Education in colleges with a country of domicile of Brazil, Russia, India and China in 2009/10, the latest year for which final data is available. Information on the nationality of learners in Further Education is not available, therefore country of domicile has been provided.
	Government funded learning as recorded on the Individualised Learner Record (ILR) for Further Education is restricted to home learners. Therefore funded learners who are non EEA (European Economic Area) nationals must have been resident in the UK for the three years preceding their course start date and the main purpose for residence was not to receive full-time education during any part of that three year period. There are a limited number of exceptions to this, for example—refugees, learners with indefinite leave to remain status, or learners studying under reciprocal exchange agreements.
	
		
			 Table 2: Further Education learner participation in colleges by country of domicile, 2009/10 
			  FE learner participation 
			 Brazil 110 
			 China 200 
			 India 290 
			 Russia 50 
			 Total 650 
			 Notes: 1 .This data includes learning in the Learner Responsive, Apprenticeships and Other work-based learning funding streams delivered in General Further Education Colleges including Tertiary, Sixth Form Colleges, Special Colleges—Agricultural and Horticultural Colleges and Art and Design Colleges, Specialist Colleges and External Institutions. 2. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10. Source: Individualised Learner Record

Post Offices: Closures

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many post offices have closed since May 2010.

Edward Davey: The information requested is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. I have therefore asked Paula Vennells, the managing director of the Post Office Ltd, to respond directly to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices: Wales

Jessica Morden: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many post offices in Wales have closed since May 2010.

Edward Davey: The information requested is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. I have therefore asked Paula Vennells, the managing director of the Post Office Ltd, to respond directly to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Press: Competition

Lorely Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what meetings the Competition Minister has had with representatives of (a) newspaper and magazine publishers, (b) news and magazine wholesalers, (c) newspaper and magazine retailers and (d) the Office of Fair Trading on the exemption of news and magazine suppliers from the requirements of section 131 of the Enterprise Act 2002.

Edward Davey: I have not had any meetings relating to exempting newspaper and magazine suppliers from the requirements of section 131 of the Enterprise Act 2002.

Research: Finance

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what provision he has made for any revenue running costs arising from the additional capital expenditure on science announced in the Budget 2011.

David Willetts: We are not expecting any net increases in running costs arising from these projects. Formal allocations of the additional Budget 2011 capital funding for science will be subject to BIS approval of the Research Council and UK Space Agency business cases for each project. These business cases will identify where there are any increases to running costs arising from the capital projects and will explain how these costs will be funded from available resources and any future revenue.

Research: Procurement

Simon Danczuk: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what his Department's policy is on encouraging publicly-funded research centres to procure machinery manufactured in the UK.

David Willetts: All procurement of equipment or other products and services by publicly funded research centres is undertaken on the basis of open and competitive tendering procedures, as required by the EU procurement directives and UK Government guidance issued by the Cabinet Office.

Rolls-Royce

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will meet relevant hon. Members and trade union officials from Rolls Royce to discuss his Department's Plan for Growth.

Mark Prisk: I met hon. Members and trade union officials from Rolls-Royce on 22 March to discuss a range of issues. If there are specific questions about the Plan for Growth, it would be helpful if the hon. Member could write to me setting them out. We also have close and regular contact with Rolls-Royce's senior management team.
	The first phase of the growth review was reported at Budget 2011. Some 117 measures were announced in ‘The Plan for Growth', and the majority of these measures are incorporated in published departmental business plans. The growth review will last the lifetime of this Parliament to provide an ongoing focus on what Government can do to support growth. The next phase will include a key focus on the successful implementation of these measures. Progress on delivering these actions, and on the next phase, will initially report in autumn 2011.

Stress

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what arrangements his Department has in place to (a) reduce levels of and (b) support staff diagnosed with work-related stress.

Edward Davey: This Department has a range of measures in place to reduce levels of and to support staff diagnosed with stress and related conditions.
	People with a long-term health condition or disability may request reasonable adjustments in the workplace in order to help them perform their job effectively and to the best of their ability. These in-depth assessments are carried out by a specialist disability management service provider.
	All staff have access to a confidential Employee Assistance Programme providing support and advice.
	Where staff are absent for a period of two weeks or more for stress or related conditions, the Department seeks early advice from our occupational health service provider on the support that can be offered to facilitate an early and effective return to work.
	This Department is currently developing a BIS Health and Wellbeing Strategy, which includes more support for line managers who manage individuals with anxiety, depression or stress. We have identified individuals with a susceptibility for being absent on these grounds to ensure that they are accessing available support.

Students: Finance

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 3 May 2011, Official Report, column 717W, on students: finance, what progress he has made with the Central Office of Information in developing its information campaign to communicate student finance arrangements to prospective students.

David Willetts: The first phase of our campaign to get information to prospective students and their families about our student finance reforms was launched on 9 May. It uses a mixture of radio, press and digital advertising.

Students: Finance

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 3 May 2011, Official Report, column 717W, on students: finance, what meetings (a) he and (b) his officials have had with the Central Office of Information on the development of an information campaign to communicate student finance arrangements to prospective students; and on what date each such meeting took place.

David Willetts: BIS officials are in regular contact with the Central Office of Information to discuss the best way to provide information about our student finance reforms to prospective students and their families. I met with the Central Office of Information and officials on 4 April 2011 to review the proposals for the recently launched public information campaign.

Students: Finance

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 27 April 2011, Official Report, column 493W, on students: finance, to which organisations and websites the key facts e-flyer has been sent.

David Willetts: To date, the following organisations and websites have received the e-flyer.
	Organisations and websites
	Universities UK, Guild HE, Russell Group, 1994 Group, Million+, University Alliance, 157 Group, Mixed Economy Group, Association of Colleges, Association of Learning Providers, Higher Education Policy Institute, Sutton Trust, Universities Marketing Forum, Higher Education External Relations Association, Royal Institute of British Architectures, British Dental Association, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, Research Councils UK, Confederation of Business Industry, Council of Validating Universities, British Academy, APPG Personal Finance Education, Helena Kennedy Foundation, Consumer Finance Education Board, Credit Action, Higher Education Statistic Agency, Action on Access, Leadership Foundation for Higher Education, Higher Education Liaison Officers Association, National Association of Student Money Advisers, Association of Managers of Student Services in Higher Education, National Association of Managers of Student Services in Colleges, Institute of Careers Guidance, Association for Careers Education and Guidance, National Association for Education Guidance for Adults, Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Service, Association of Career Professionals, Careers Research Advisory Centre, Universities and Colleges Employers Association, National Union of Teachers, Association of Teachers and Lecturers, University and College Union, Association for School and College Leaders , National Association of Head Teachers, National Association of Independent Schools and Non-Maintained Special Schools, Sixth Form Colleges Forum, Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, Association of Learning Providers, Teach First, Future First, Association of Colleges National College, BPP, Kaplan, Buckingham university, School of Finance, Institute of Contemporary Music Performance, College of Law, Resource Development International, National Union of Students, UK Youth Parliament, Youth Net, The Student Room, Push, BrightsideUniAid, Fullonmag, Personal Finance Education Group, moneysavingexpert.com, Opendays, Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, Office of the Independent Adjudicator, Higher Education Funding Council for England, Office of Fair Access, UCAS, Student Loan Company, Anglia Ruskin university, Aston university, Bath Spa university, Birkbeck college, Birmingham City university, Bishop Grosseteste university college, Bournemouth university, Brunel university, Buckinghamshire New university, Canterbury Christ Church university, Central School of Speech and Drama, City university London, Conservatoire for Dance and Drama, Courtauld Institute of Art, Coventry university, Cranfield university, De Montfort university, Edge Hill university, Goldsmiths college, University of London, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Harper Adams university college, Heythrop College, Imperial College London, Institute of Education, Keele university, King's College London, Kingston university, Lancaster university, Leeds College of Music, Leeds Metropolitan university, Leeds Trinity university college, Liverpool Hope university, Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, Liverpool John Moores university, London Business School, London Metropolitan university, London School of Economics and Political Science, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London South Bank university, Loughborough university, Manchester Metropolitan university, Middlesex university, Newman university college, Norwich university college of the Arts, Nottingham Trent university, Open university, Oxford Brookes university, Queen Mary, university of London, Ravensbourne, Roehampton university, Rose Bruford College, Royal Academy of Music, Royal Agricultural College, Royal College of Art, Royal College of Music, Royal Holloway university of London, Royal Northern College of Music, Royal Veterinary College, School of Oriental and African Studies, School of Pharmacy, Sheffield Hallam university, Southampton Solent university, St George's Hospital Medical School, St Mary's university college, Staffordshire university, Thames Valley university, Arts university college at Bournemouth, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, University college Birmingham, University college Falmouth, University college London, University college Plymouth St Mark & St John, University for the Creative Arts, university of Bath, university of Bedfordshire, university of Birmingham, university of Bolton, university of Bradford, university of Brighton, university of Bristol, university of Cambridge, university of Central Lancashire, university of Chester, university of Chichester, university of Cumbria, university of Derby, university of Durham, university of East Anglia, university of East London, university of Essex, university of Exeter, university of Gloucestershire, university of Greenwich, university of Hertfordshire, university of Huddersfield, university of Hull, university of Kent, university of Leeds, university of Leicester, university of Lincoln, university of Liverpool, university of London, university of Manchester, Newcastle university, university of Northampton, university of Northumbria at Newcastle, university of Nottingham, university of Oxford, university of Plymouth, university of Portsmouth, university of Reading, university of Salford, university of Sheffield, university of Southampton, university of Sunderland, university of Surrey, university of Sussex, university of Teesside, university of the Arts London, university of the West of England Bristol, university of Warwick, university of Westminster, university of Winchester, university of Wolverhampton, university of Worcester, university of York, Writtle college, York St John university, Government Departments, MPs and Peers.

Students: Finance

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 27 April 2011, Official Report, column 493W, on students: finance, which organisation processed the typesetting of the key facts e-flyer; and on what date his Department commissioned the work.

David Willetts: Communisis was commissioned on 7 March to typeset the efacts flyer.

Students: Finance

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 3 May 2011, Official Report, column 717W, on students: finance, what funding he has allocated for communicating student finance arrangements to prospective students for (a) 2011-12 and (b) 2012-13.

David Willetts: To date the Department has allocated £1.475 million to the recently launched information campaign aimed at potential students considering entering university from September 2012.
	The Student Loan Company has allocated some £1.3 million in the current financial year to provide information, advice and guidance aimed at informing and encouraging potential students to apply for the student support available from September.

Students: Finance

David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 3 May 2011, Official Report, column 717W, on students: finance, which advertising agency he has appointed to support the campaign to communicate higher education finance options to prospective students.

David Willetts: Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe—part of the Young and Rubicam Group has been appointed to develop our campaign to communicate information about student finance reforms to prospective students and their families.

Students: Loans

Greg Mulholland: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much and what proportion of the amount lent each year in student loans he estimates will be written off under the new arrangements for student finance and tuition fees since universities announced their proposed fee levels for 2011-12; and whether his Department has revised those estimates.

David Willetts: For 2011-12 we are forecasting that of the amount of student loans issued, both tuition fee and maintenance around 30% will not be repaid. The tuition fee arrangements for 2011-12 will remain as they are now; a university will be able to charge up to £3,375 for tuition fees and a student will be able to apply for this amount as a tuition fee loan. Information on the arrangements for student finance for 2011-12 can be found on
	www.direct.gov.uk
	For 2012-13 we are forecasting the same level of non repayment of loans issued as although students will be borrowing more for tuition fees their terms of repayment will increase to 30 years and the percentage of their income that will be repaid when they earn over £21,000 will be 9%.

Students: Loans

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he made of the potential effect on student participation levels of the determination of the interest rate on student loans by reference to the retail prices index; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: We are not proposing to change the measure of inflation used to determine the interest rate on student loans, and do not therefore expect there to be an impact on student participation levels.
	The retail price index (RPI) has been used since the introduction of student loans as the basis for determining interest. We will continue to use it for this purpose; the real rate of interest that will apply to student loans while the student is studying and to higher earners will use RPI as the basis for determining inflation.
	These proposals have been carefully costed and are fair, reasonable and affordable in the long-term.

Students: Loans

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he made of the potential effect on participation by students with family responsibilities of setting student loan repayment liability for part-time students from three and a half years after borrowing; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: Part-time students will become liable to repay from 6 April following the third anniversary of the start date of their course, even if they are continuing to study. If the study period is less than three years, an individual will start repaying the loan in the April after the course finishes.
	Part-time students will repay at a rate of 9% above £21,000 and no one is expected to repay until they earn more than £21,000.
	This date has been chosen as it is consistent with the repayment date that will typically apply to full-time students.
	This balances the needs of the student with those of the tax payer, as it secures repayments from part-time students who earn more than £21,000 at the earliest reasonable opportunity while also affording protection to low-earning graduates.
	Because the earnings threshold at which repayments start will be raised to £21,000, more low earners, including many part-time workers, will fall below the repayment threshold. The new system will particularly benefit those (both men and women) who take time out to have a family and the lowest-earners.
	Currently, part-time students do not receive such support, so they will be in a better position with this new system.

Third Sector

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 27 April 2011, Official Report, column 494W, on the third sector, how much funding was provided to each charity funded by his Department in the last year for which figures are available.

Edward Davey: This Department does not make charitable donations but provides grant or grant in aid funding to some bodies that are registered charities. The following table sets out the amounts this Department has given to these bodies in financial year 2010-11.
	Further information on funding to charities could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 2010-11 
			 Bodies £000 
			 Citizens Advice 53,573 
			 Citizens Advice Scotland 3,518 
			 Design Council 5,755 
			 Enterprise UK 3,627 
			 Learning and Skills Improvement Service 47,430 
			 The National Institute of Adult Continuing Education 2,910 
			 University for Industry 135,212 
			 UK Council for International Student Affairs 300 
			 UK Skills 4,000 
			 UK Online 5,455

Video Recordings Act 1984

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment he has made of the likely effect on consumer protection of the proposed reorganisation of the Local Government Group on the enforcement of the Video Recordings Act 1984 by trading standards officers.

Edward Vaizey: I have been asked to reply.
	As work on implementing changes to the Video Recordings Act has been progressing, my officials have been speaking regularly to officials at Local Government Regulation to ensure that the needs of those involved in enforcement are met.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Access to Work Programme

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the reason for trends in the number of new customers using the Access to Work programme in the last year; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Miller: Access to Work is a popular and successful programme and numbers helped have grown steadily in recent years. The programme supported 32,120 disabled people to keep or get employment during 2008-09 and supported 37,290 disabled people in 2009-10. Figures from April 2010 to December 2010 show that 32,680 disabled people were supported by Access to Work in that period. The figures appear to show a small decline in the numbers helped in Quarter 2 and Quarter 3 of 2010-11 but as these numbers are subject to revision it is too early to draw any inferences from this.

Access to Work Programme

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people received support through the Access to Work programme in each quarter since its inception.

Maria Miller: Figures from the inception of Access to Work in 1997, up to end of March 2007 are not available due to unreliable data.
	The following table shows the number of individuals helped on the Access to Work programme each quarter since April 2007 and up to 31 December 2010(1, 2):
	
		
			   Number 
			 Q1 2007-08 16,610 
			 Q2 2007-08 17,300 
			 Q3 2007-08 17,600 
			 Q4 2007-08 18,020 
			  Total number helped during 2007-08 27,720 
			    
			 Q1 2008-09 18,610 
			 Q2 2008-09 19,330 
			 Q3 2008-09 19,930 
			 Q4 2008-09 20,840 
			  Total number helped during 2008-09 32,130 
			    
			 Q1 2009-10 21,560 
			 Q2 2009-10 22,170 
			 Q3 2009-10 22,860 
		
	
	
		
			 Q4 2009-10 23,970 
			  Total number helped during 2009-10 37,300 
			    
			 Q1 2010-11 24,230 
			 Q2 2010-11 23,910 
			 Q3 2010-11 22,930 
			  Total number helped during Q1, Q2 and Q3 2010-11 32,680 
			    
			  Total number helped since April 2007 73,500 
			 (1) Source—Access to Work database. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. (2) Each person is counted once in each quarter. If a person has been helped in more than one quarter within the same financial year, they are only counted once in the total numbers helped during that financial year. If a person has been helped in more than one financial year, they are only counted once in the total numbers helped since April 2007.

Bakeries: Safety

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the effects of sustained heat on people working in bakeries.

Chris Grayling: HSE has not conducted specific research on bakeries and the effect of sustained heat on workers in those environments.
	HSE has commissioned research that looks at the effects of working in hot environments that can be applied to a wide range of UK industries including bakeries. This research can be found at:
	http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr337.pdf
	looked at the risks associated with manual handling in a range of thermal environments including bakeries.
	http://www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr008.pdf
	was used to provide practical web based generic guidance to UK industry on heat stress risk assessments.
	In addition HSE commissioned Professor Ray Kemp to review the management of workplace temperature, and later reviewed results from a questionnaire, both of which do not support legislative review. Guidance available from the HSE website reflects these findings, and offers simple measures that may be taken to address conditions in hot workplaces:
	http://www.hse.gov.uk/temperature/index.htm

Cold Weather Payments

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cold weather payments were made to pensioner households in the weather station area covering (a) York Central constituency, (b) York local authority area and (c) the UK in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11; and what was the total value of such payments.

Steve Webb: The information available is for Great Britain and is provided in the following tables:
	
		
			 Number of pensioner benefit units eligible for a cold weather payment in each area in 2009-10 and 2010-11 
			 Area 2009-10 2010-11 
			 City of York constituency 3,700 n/a 
			 York Central constituency n/a 3,400 
			 York local authority 6,000 6,000 
			 Great Britain 2,598,300 2,601,100 
			 Notes 1. The information relating to Northern Ireland is a matter for the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. 2. The information given is for pensioner benefit units as opposed to pensioner households as cold weather payments are made to benefit units and not households. There can be more than one benefit unit in a household, e.g. where two sisters live together they would be classed as two benefit units but one household. 3. The analysis does not include pensioner benefit units who are eligible for cold weather payments because they receive employment and support allowance (income-related), as no relevant data are available. However, it is very likely that the number of people involved is small and would not change the above estimate. 4. The estimate is lower than the number of benefit units receiving pension credit because people in a care home are not eligible for cold weather payments. 5. In 2009-10 the York Central constituency was one part of the City of York constituency so figures have been given for this constituency however they are not comparable. Source: Analysis of 5% sample data for pension credit, income support (for recipients with a pensioner premium), jobseeker's allowance (for recipients with a pensioner premium) and the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (100% data), all for August 2009 and August 2010. 
		
	
	
		
			 Expenditure on cold weather payments for the weather stations which cover the York Central/City of York constituencies in 2009-10 and 2010-11 
			 £ million 
			 Weather station 2009-10 2010-11 
			 Fylingdales 0.6 0.5 
			 Linton on Ouse 8.5 10.7 
			 Notes: 1. The information provided is Management Information. Our preference is to answer all parliamentary questions using Official/National Statistics but in this case we only have Management Information available. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official/National Statistics and there are some issues with the data, for example, figures given are estimates. Actuals are not available. 2. A cold weather payment is made to an eligible customer when the average temperature has been recorded as, or is forecast to be, 0°C or below over seven consecutive days at the weather station linked to the customer's postcode. (When the temperature criterion is met, the weather station is said to trigger.) 3. Some weather stations listed are linked both to an area within the York Central and City of York constituencies and also to an area outside of it. Estimated numbers given are for the weather station as a whole, not for the part of the York Central or City of York constituencies linked to the weather station. 4. Some postcode to weather station linkages have changed from one year to the next, so estimated numbers are not always comparable from year to year. 5. Estimated expenditure is for cold weather payments triggered in the relevant financial year. 6. Cold weather payments are made to benefit units. A benefit unit can be a single person or a couple and can include children. 7. Some benefit units received more than one payment in some years. 8. Estimated expenditure has been rounded to the nearest £100,000. Sources: Postcode districts in the York Central and City of York constituencies: analysis of National Statistics Postcode Directory. Postcode district to weather station links: Department for Work and Pensions records. Estimated numbers: scans of benefit computer systems taken at the end of October each year giving the number of potential qualifiers for cold weather payments by weather station; Department for Work and Pensions records of triggers; Department for Work and Pensions records of the total number of payments actually made by benefit computer system and clerically. 
		
	
	The estimated expenditure on cold weather payments in Great Britain in 2009-10 was £296.7 million and in 2010-11 was £430 million.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Maria Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on special advisers' travel by (a) private hire car, (b) train, (c) bus, (d) commercial aircraft and (e) private aircraft since May 2010.

Chris Grayling: The following table details this Department's spend on travel for our special advisers during the period May 2010 to March 2011; further data are unavailable at present.
	
		
			 Travel expenditure May 2009 to March 2010 (£) May 2010 to March 2011 (£) Percentage reduction 
			 Rail costs 1,102 689.08 37 
			 Air costs 8,214 277 96 
			 Taxi costs 0 37.00 — 
			 Total 9,316.00 1,003.08 89

Disability Living Allowance

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what timetable his Department has set for the reassessment of people in receipt of disability living allowance.

Maria Miller: From 2013 we will begin to replace disability living allowance for people of working age with personal independence payment, a new, more transparent benefit and objective assessment of individual need. We expect that by 2016 all existing working age recipients of disability living allowance will have been reassessed for personal independence payment. We will continue to involve disabled people and their organisations in the design of this exercise.
	We want to build on the experience of developing an assessment and applying it to new and existing claimants of working age to inform our decisions about the arrangements for children and pensioners. Therefore, we will not extend personal independence payment to children or pensioners already receiving DLA until we have had an opportunity to consider the effectiveness of the new arrangements for working age people.

Disability Living Allowance: Care Homes

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has any plans to remove the mobility component payment of disability living allowance for state-funded residents in care homes after 28 days.

Maria Miller: In response to the concerns raised by individuals and organisations, we announced that we would not remove the DLA mobility component from people in residential care from October 2012 and that we would consider the needs of care home residents along side all other recipients of DLA. We will review the existing evidence and gather more to enable us to determine the extent to which there are overlaps in provision for mobility needs of people in residential care homes.
	When the work is complete we will make a final decision on the way forward. Any changes will be rolled into the introduction of Personal Independence Payment from April 2013.
	We guarantee this measure is not intended to reduce the mobility of residents in care homes. It aims to remove any overlap, not remove severely disabled people's ability to get out and about.

Employment and Support Allowance: Disability

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he is taking to ensure that persons with learning disabilities are informed of the help and support available to them from his Department.

Maria Miller: The Department provides appropriate and flexible support through a variety of channels to ensure customers with learning disabilities are informed about benefits and services available to them.
	Information and help can be accessed through our online services via Directgov. We also produce leaflets in easy read format available both online and offline which provide information mainly for people with learning disabilities. Customers can also access our telephony services such as the benefit enquiry line where they are asked a range of questions to identify the most appropriate benefits available to them. This information is recorded electronically, removing the need for a claim form to be completed.
	Increasingly, customers are opting to apply for jobseeker’s allowance online via the "Do it online" section of the Directgov website. This provides the flexibility to access Jobcentre Plus services from their own homes, at a pace that suits them and allows them to be assisted in completing the application by an advocate or representative. Customers can also submit an initial application for employment support allowance via the internet claim service.
	Should a customer be unable to use either of the options above, clerical forms can be issued or, where appropriate, we also offer face to face meetings to support the most vulnerable customers.
	We also provide the customer the opportunity to appoint a representative to manage their claim on their behalf, e.g. family member or their key worker.
	Our work, with national partners such as the citizens advice bureau at a strategic and operational level, offers a holistic and joined-up service for disabled people, including those with learning disabilities.
	Jobcentre Plus staff have the opportunity to learn more about the learning disability agenda through the “Raising the Game on Disability” seminar, which covers a range of pan disability topics, but can also specifically include a session around learning disabilities, to improve the customer service experience for individuals with these conditions.

Funeral Payments

Iain Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will take steps to increase the level of co-ordination between his Department, the Department of Health and the Ministry of Justice on the guidance provided on funerals and bereavements; what plans he has to provide training for his Department's staff in this area; and if he will make a statement.

Steve Webb: DWP rolled out a new Bereavement Service in March. The service enables a bereaved customer to report a death and to find out whether they may be entitled to benefits as a result of the bereavement, in a single phone call. Where they may be entitled to a Social Fund funeral payment, or to bereavement benefit, a claim can be taken by the agent over the phone and sent directly to processing teams.
	Two and a half days of training has been provided to staff delivering the Bereavement Service, including both soft skills and technical training. Staff responsible for processing completed Social Fund funeral payment claims receive four weeks' training including two weeks' consolidation. Bereavement benefit processing staff receive three weeks' training on processing new claims, which includes one week's consolidation, while training for processing bereavement benefit changes of circumstances is eight weeks' duration, including four weeks' consolidation.
	It is important that bereaved customers know about the new service so that they can access the additional help available. In order to provide this information, the Directgov site will be updated by June 2011, and all relevant leaflets amended by September 2011 (timing varies to minimise extra costs). In both cases, while DWP leads on information about bereavement, publications are developed in close collaboration with colleagues in General Register Office, Ministry of Justice, Department of Health, the Probate Service and HM Revenue and Customs.
	As my hon. Friend knows, my Department is also leading the way on ‘Tell Us Once’ and may I refer him to the record of the Adjournment Debate on 26 April 2011, Official Report, column 146.
	My hon. Friend is right in pointing out that communications need to be co-ordinated with other Government Departments, particularly within the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) and the Department of Health. My Department has written to 60 third party organisations, including MOJ, about the new services being provided for the bereaved. Additionally they have delivered a presentation to a number of MOJ staff who will be actively involved in helping customers to access the new services.
	Regarding the Department of Health, my Department wants to make sure that the messages are received by all the people who will be in a position to advise and support the bereaved within the health service and associated fields. To this end, they are conducting analysis to identify relevant areas including hospitals, hospices, specialist nurses and counsellors and residential care and nursing homes, with a view to sending them targeted information about the new services. They expect to send the communication out in the next two to three weeks to around 27,000 contacts.

Future Jobs Fund: Kirklees

Jason McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people placed in employment in Kirklees through the Future Jobs Fund are still in work.

Chris Grayling: The Department does not monitor individual outcomes for people who have been employed through the Future Jobs Fund (FJF). The FJF, at up to £6,500 per person, does not offer value for money to the taxpayer. It creates temporary, short term placements, and the grants do not include any incentives to move people into permanent employment. Recent analysis shows nearly 45% of FJF participants are claiming benefit seven months after they started FJF. There are still too many FJF participants who are failing to get a sustained job. The published version of the analysis can be found here:
	http://research.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/adhoc_analysis/2011/early_analysis_of_fjf_participant_outcomes_march2011.pdf

Housing Benefit: North West

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people in (a) the North West and (b) Warrington affected by proposals to reduce housing benefit to those deemed to be under-occupying their property; and in each such case, what proportion are (i) disabled and (ii) over 60.

Steve Webb: The estimated impact of changes to housing benefit for working-age tenants living in the social rented sector is based upon information collected in the Department's Family Resources Survey. Because the survey collects information from a sample of households, we cannot produce reliable estimates by area below a regional level, and for the number of claimants affected by both region and disability, and region and age.
	In February 2011 the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) produced an equality impact assessment entitled “Housing Benefit: Size Criteria for people renting in the Social Rented Sector”, coinciding with the publication of the Welfare Reform Bill. The equality impact assessment can be found at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/eia-social-sector-housing-under-occupation-wr2011.pdf
	The equality impact assessment included regional estimates for working-age housing benefit recipients living in social housing, under-occupying their home and who were likely to be affected by the introduction of the size criteria in social rented housing.
	
		
			 Government office region Estimated number of  claimants affected Affected claimants as % of working-age SRS HB claimants in each region Average weekly HB loss per affected claimant (£)  (1) 
			 North East 50,000 46 12 
			 North West 120,000 43 12 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 70,000 36 11 
			 East Midlands 50,000 37 11 
			 West Midlands 60,000 33 14 
			 Eastern 60,000' 36 14 
			 London 70,000 19 21 
			 South East 50,000 26 15 
			 South West 30,000 28 13 
			 Wales 40,000 42 11 
			 Scotland 70,000 32 11 
			 Great Britain 670,000 32 13 
			 (1 )2013-14.  Source:  Policy Simulation Model, using 2008-09 reference data from the Family Resource Survey. 
		
	
	The impact assessment also included a national estimate of working age housing benefit recipients living in social housing, who were likely to be affected by the introduction of the size criteria, by disability and by age, as follows.
	
		
			 Disability status  (1) Estimated number of claimants affected Breakdown of working-age SRS HB claimants affected (Percentage) Breakdown of all working-age SRS HB claimants (Percentage) Breakdown of all SRS HB claimants (Percentage) Average weekly HB loss per affected claimant (£) 
			 Disabled 450,000 66 56 67 13 
			 Non-disabled 220,000 34 44 33 13 
			 All 670,000 100 100 100 13 
			 (1) Based upon the claimant or partner having a DDA recognised disability.  Source:  Policy 5 Simulation Model, using 2008-09 reference data from the Family Resource Survey. 
		
	
	
		
			 Family circumstances Estimated number of claimants affected Affected claimants as % of working age SRS HB claimants  (1) Average weekly HB loss per affected claimant   (£) 
			 Age 60 and over, but under state retirement age 50,000 47 15 
			 Under 60, couples with children 60,000 18 14 
			 Under 60, lone parents 160,000 22 13 
			 Under 60, couples without children 80,000 62 13 
			 Under 60, single people 320,000 42 13 
			 All family circumstances 670,000 32 13 
			 (1 )Within each family circumstance.  Source:  Policy Simulation Model, using 2008-09 reference data from the Family Resource Survey. 
		
	
	We estimate that around 120,000 of the affected working-age claimants are living in the North West. On a national basis we estimate that approximately 450,000 of the affected working-age claimants would be disabled, and approximately 50,000 would be over 60 (but below state retirement age).
	Any further breakdown of the estimated impact of the degree of under occupation by region would be based upon information from a very small number of households for many of these combinations.

Jobcentre Plus: Manpower

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff were employed in the Jobcentre Plus contact centre directorate in the last year for which figures are available; and how many staff were employed on each of the customer service telephone lines administered by the directorate.

Chris Grayling: The following table shows contact centre directorate (CCD) full-time equivalent (FTE) staffing level over the past 13 months. CCD do not report on staffing by each service line as most telephony agents are multi-skilled and therefore handle calls on numerous service lines.
	
		
			  FTE headcount 
			 April 2010 11,441 
			 May 2010 11,258 
			 June 2010 11,186 
			 July 2010 11,182 
			 August 2010 11,024 
			 September 2010 10,729 
			 October 2010 10,124 
			 November 2010 9,847 
			 December 2010 9,649 
			 January 2011 9,501 
			 February 2011 9,606 
			 March 2011 9,620 
			 April 2011 9,306 
			 Source: Data extracted from OFA (Data View) 16 May 2011.

Jobcentre Plus: Preston

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which areas the Jobcentre Plus contact centre in Preston serves.

Chris Grayling: Preston Contact Centre takes calls on the National Benefit Fraud Hotline and the Local Authority Fraud Hotline. Both of these are virtual service lines so the site takes calls from customers anywhere in the UK.

Jobcentre Plus: Telephone Services

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many calls were made to each of the customer service telephone lines administered by the Jobcentre Plus contact centre directorate in each of the last 10 weeks for which figures are available; and how many such calls were (a) answered and (b) lost.

Chris Grayling: The available information on how many calls were taken by Jobcentre Plus contact centre directorate in each of the last 10 weeks has been placed in the Library. The table illustrates the number of calls that were received, answered and those which were lost.
	The number of lost calls is the sum of the unsuccessful and abandoned calls.

Jobcentre Plus: Telephone Services

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many calls made to each of the customer service telephone lines administered by the Jobcentre Plus contact centre directorate were concluded within the average handling time (AHT) in each of the last 10 weeks for which figures are available; what the AHT was for each telephone line; how many calls were terminated with the inquiry outstanding; and what proportion of those outstanding inquiries received a call back from staff within three hours.

Chris Grayling: The information requested on the average handling time (AHT) for each contact centre directorate service line has been placed in the Library.
	We do not keep records on the number of calls that were terminated for further action. We do know the total number of handovers made via the 0845 call logger for those service lines where it is recorded but some of these (change of circumstances) will not require a call back from the benefit centre when they are actioned.
	We have shown the percentage of all call backs made within three hours per service line where available. It is not a proportion of the handovers made due to the fact that some handovers will not require a call back as mentioned above.

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of those on jobseeker's allowance are supporting more than four children.

Chris Grayling: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  Jobseeker's allowance claimants supporting five or more children (Great Britain), November 2010 
			 Total claimants (number) 1,328,910 
			 Five or more children (number) 5,590 
			 Proportion (percentage) 0.4 
			 Notes: 1. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest 10. Proportion is to the nearest decimal place. 2. Data are published at: http://statistics.dwp.gov.uk/asd/index.php?page=tabtool Source: DWP Tabulation Tool, 100%

Older People: Weather

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department is taking to protect vulnerable elderly people from the effects of cold weather.

Steve Webb: The winter fuel payment provides a significant contribution to an older person’s winter fuel costs and provides vital reassurance that people can afford to turn up their heating. For winter 2011-12, eligible people will receive a winter fuel payment of either £200 or £300 depending on their household circumstances.
	In addition, cold weather payments can help people who are in receipt of certain benefits including pension credit with their additional heating costs during winter.
	We are working closely with the Department of Energy and Climate Change on the Warm Home Discount scheme. Under this scheme, from winter 2011-12 some of the poorest pensioners will get a rebate off their electricity bills (subject to parliamentary approval). Rebates will be £120 in the first year of the scheme rising to £140 by the final year in 2014-15.
	The Department for Work and Pensions also works closely with other Government Departments on the “Keep Warm Keep Well” campaign, which is aimed at vulnerable households in England and gives information on the health benefits of keeping warm in winter and details of the grants and benefits available.

Pensioners: Poverty

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of pensioners were living in poverty in each of the last five years; and what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of pensioners likely to be living in poverty in each of the next four years.

Steve Webb: Estimates of pensioner poverty are published in the Households Below Average Incomes series. The most commonly used measure of pensioner poverty relates to those people with income below 60% of contemporary median income, after housing costs. This is often referred to as relative poverty.
	The latest year for which data are available is 2009-10. The following table shows the percentage of pensioners with income below 60% of contemporary median income, after housing costs, in each of the most recent five years for which data are available.
	
		
			  Percentage of pensioners with income below 60% of contemporary median after housing costs 
			 2005-06 17 
			 2006-07 19 
			 2007-08 18 
			 2008-09 16 
			 2009-10 16 
			 Notes: 1. These statistics are based on the Households Below Average Income series, sourced from the Family Resources Survey. 2. The estimates presented here are for the United Kingdom. 3. All estimates are based on survey data and are therefore subject to uncertainty. Small differences should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 4. The income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the Department for Work and Pensions publication ‘Households Below Average Income’ (HBAI) series, which uses disposable household income, adjusted (or ‘equivalised’) for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 5. For the Households Below Average Income series, incomes have been equivalised using Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) modified equivalisation factors. 6. Proportions of pensioners in low-income households have been rounded to the nearest whole percentage point. 
		
	
	The Department does not publish projections on pensioner poverty.

Personal Income

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of (a) the average level of earnings, including in-work benefits and tax credits, for working families in the latest period for which figures are available and (b) average income of workless households (i) in each region of the UK and (ii) for a household comprising (A) a lone parent and (1) one child, (2) two children, (3) three children, (4) four children, (5) five children and (6) six children and (B) a couple and (1) one child, (2) two children, (3) three children, (4) four children, (5) five children and (6) six children in the latest period for which figures are available.

Maria Miller: The following tables summarise the information on average earnings and income as requested, from the Family Resources Survey 2009-10—the latest data available:
	
		
			 (a) Median weekly income from employment, self-employment, benefits and tax credits of benefit units containing at least one working adult 
			 (i) By region 
			 Region/country Median weekly income (£) 
			 North East 470 
			 North West 481 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 498 
			 East Midlands 528 
			 West Midlands 462 
			 East 570 
			 London 605 
			 South East 624 
			 South West 525 
			 Wales 507 
			 Scotland 526 
			 Northern Ireland 471 
			   
			 United Kingdom 533 
		
	
	
		
			 (ii) By benefit unit composition 
			 Composition Median weekly income (£) 
			 One adult  
			 One child 384 
			 Two children 408 
			 Three children 496 
			 Four children — 
			 Five children — 
			 Six children — 
			 Seven or more children — 
			   
			 Two adults  
			 One child 772 
			 Two children 809 
			 Three children 748 
			 Four children 691 
			 Five children — 
			 Six children — 
			 Seven or more children — 
			   
			 All benefit units with children 697 
		
	
	
		
			 (b) Median weekly total income of households containing no working adults 
			 (i) By region 
			 Region/country Median weekly income (£) 
			 North East 254 
			 North West 284 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 258 
			 East Midlands 268 
			 West Midlands 269 
			 East 297 
			 London 289 
			 South East 307 
			 South West 303 
			 Wales 268 
			 Scotland 256 
			 Northern Ireland 255 
			   
			 United Kingdom 278 
		
	
	
		
			 (ii) By household composition 
			 Composition Median weekly income (£) 
			 One adult  
			 One child 237 
			 Two children 290 
			 Three children 360 
			 Four children — 
			 Five children — 
			 Six children — 
			 Seven or more children — 
			   
			 Two adults  
			 One child 313 
			 Two children 326 
			 Three children 393 
			 Four children — 
			 Five children — 
			 Six children — 
			 Seven or more children — 
			   
			 Three or more adults with child/children 429 
			   
			 All households with children 295 
			 — indicates the sample size is not sufficient to yield a reliable figure. Notes:  1. The FRS is a nationally representative sample of approximately 25,000 UK private households. Data for 2009-10, the latest year available, were collected between April 2009 and March 2010.  2. The figures from the FRS are based on a sample of households which have been adjusted for non-response using multi-purpose grossing factors which align the estimates to region populations by age and sex. Estimates are subject to sampling error and remaining non-response error.  3. A household is defined as a single person or group of people living at the same address as their only or main residence, who either share one meal a day together or share the living accommodation (i.e. a living room). A benefit unit is defined as a single adult or a married or cohabiting couple and any dependent children. An adult is defined as those individuals aged 16 or over, unless defined as a dependent child. An individual may be defined as a child if aged 16 to 19-years-old and they are not married nor in a civil partnership nor living with a partner; and living with parents; and in full-time non-advanced education or in unwaged Government training. An adult has been defined as working based on their self-reported economic status. Income from employment, self employment, benefits and tax credits includes: income from wages and salaries, self-employed income, tax credits and income—and non-income related benefits (including child benefit, disability living allowance, housing benefit and council tax benefit). Total household income includes income from wages and salaries, self employment, investments, tax credits, income—and non-income related benefits (including child benefit, disability living allowance, housing benefit and council tax), pensions and other sources.  4. Figures have been rounded to the nearest £.  5. The Family Resources Survey is known to under-record benefit receipt so the estimates presented should be treated with caution.

Poverty: Children

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how he plans to ensure that a focus on the eradication of child poverty is maintained in implementing his proposal to replace the Child Poverty Commission with a Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission.

Maria Miller: The Government remain committed to eradicating child poverty. The Child Poverty Strategy, published on 5 April, sets out the broad range of policies which are being implemented to ensure that disadvantaged families have the help they need to lift themselves out of poverty and that children from poorer backgrounds have the same opportunities as other children to achieve their full potential as they grow up. The strategy also announces our intention to create a stronger Social Mobility and Child Poverty Commission with a broader remit.
	Broadening the remit of the commission will not reduce the focus on child poverty. Rather, it will ensure that poverty is considered in the context of improving life chances and reducing the intergenerational transfer of poverty. Improving life chances and increasing social mobility are absolutely necessary if we are to have a sustainable impact on child poverty and it is right that there should be an explicit requirement for the commission to consider these issues.
	The changes to the commission are also intended to improve the ability of the commission to hold the Government to account. We are giving the commission a duty to publish independent annual reports assessing progress towards meeting the child poverty targets and implementing the Child Poverty Strategy. We believe that this regular independent assessment will drive progress towards our goals. It also represents a clear commitment from Government to ensure that the issue of child poverty remains high on the agenda.

Social Security Benefits

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the number of households who would be subject to the overall benefit cap if (a) child benefit, (b) child tax credit and (c) housing benefit were not included in the calculation of this cap.

Chris Grayling: We estimate that 50,000 households will be affected by the benefit cap if it is introduced as announced in the spending review. We are looking at ways of easing the transition for families and providing assistance in hard cases.
	Analysis of the benefit cap is based on a very small sample using survey data, therefore any assessment of options to exempt certain categories of income or groups from the benefit cap is subject to significant uncertainty. Estimates suggest that excluding child benefit from the calculation of the benefit cap may reduce the number of households affected by around 40% to 50% excluding child tax credit or housing benefit may reduce the number of households affected by around 80% to 90%.

Trade Unions

Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff of (a) his Department, (b) Jobcentre Plus and (c) the Pension, Disability and Carers Service are entitled to work (i) full-time as trade union representatives and (ii) part-time on trade union activities; how many such staff are paid more than £25,900 annually; and what the cost to the public purse of employing such staff on such duties was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Chris Grayling: The Department's policy on time off for trade union representatives complies with the law and reflects the code of practice issued by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service. Under this, the Department currently allows 16 staff to work full-time as trade union representatives, which equates to around 0.01% of our workforce. Of these, eight are employed by Jobcentre Plus and two by the Pension and Disability Carers Service
	The Department is unable to provide data on the number of part-time representatives operating across the country as this changes on a frequent basis. However, the amount of time available, including full-time posts, is capped at 0.2% of total staffing.
	Of the 16 staff currently working full-time on trade union activities, only four earn more than £25,900 annually.
	The cost to the public purse of the 16 staff currently engaged full-time on trade union activities is £416,000 per year on salaries, which is around 0.02% of the Department's total pay bill.

Travel to Interview

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment was made of the effects on (a) the rate of unemployment and (b) the Exchequer of the termination of the Jobcentre Plus Travel to Interview scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Chris Grayling: Help with the cost of travel to job interviews remains available from Jobcentre Plus. The Travel to Interview scheme along with a number of other discretionary funds has been rolled into a single Flexible Support Fund. This allows Jobcentre Plus managers and advisers more flexibility to tailor support they provide to jobseekers and to ensure value for money for the taxpayer. Jobcentre Plus advisers will continue to use their discretion to decide when to pay travel to interview costs.

Welfare Reform Bill

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what discussions he has had with the Social Development Minister in the Northern Ireland Executive on (a) the Welfare Reform Bill and (b) proposals to introduce charging for child maintenance services.

Chris Grayling: The Department of Work and Pensions keeps in close contact with the Department of Social Development on the subject of welfare reform at both ministerial and official levels.
	The Minister for Welfare Reform, my noble Friend Lord Freud, visited Belfast on 4 March and met with both the Minister for Employment and Learning and the Minister for Social Development.
	The Minister for Disabled People, my hon. Friend the Member for Basingstoke (Maria Miller), has also had recent discussions on 20 April with the Minister for Social Development on a range of matters, including child maintenance and disability living allowance reforms.
	Furthermore Lord Freud is arranging to speak to the newly appointed Ministers to resume discussions on the welfare reform programme.